Native to Asia, it most likely traveled to the United States on wood packing material in a plane or ship and was first discovered in North America in 2002. It infests and kills ash trees. The adult beetle eats foliage of the Ash tree, but causes little damage. The larvae however feed under the bark, which affects the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. This causes branches, and eventually the tree, to die.

Adult beetles leave the tree through D-shaped exit holes in the bark of branches and trunk. They are 3/8 to 5/8 inch long and 1/8 inch wide. They have a flattened back with metallic green wing covers. Adults are active in May through early September. The larvae are creamy white, legless, with bellshaped body segments. Pictures of both can be found at: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E-2938.pdf

The Emerald Ash Borer has a one or two year life cycle. About two weeks after emerging the females begin to lay eggs on the trees. The larvae hatch in one to two weeks and bore into the bark. They feed for several weeks and then overwinter in the outer bark or first inch of wood. They pupate in early spring.

It has been found in Michigan, Ontario, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland.

Monitoring is beginning to be done for the beetle using the beetle hunting wasp, Cerceris fumipennis. Information can be found here: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/fhm/pages/Helpfulwasps—Cercerisfumipennis.htm

To help prevent spread don’t move firewood from one place to another! Most new infestations are through moving infested ash trees, logs, or firewood into uninfested areas.

To report an infested tree or a suspect beetle call your extension office, department of agriculture or the USDA Emerald Ash Borer Hotline toll-free at 1-866-322-4512.

(From: http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E2944.pdf and http://www.emeraldashborer.info/ )