A Hop, Skip, and a Jump Away: by Tom Butzler

The Emerald Ash Borer moved from Ohio into western Pennsylvania and quarantine was put in place in 2007 to slow the spread into the rest of Pennsylvania. Four years later, that quarantine has been lifted as the insect has moved throughout Pennsylvania in over 20 counties (although a federal quarantine still exists to prevent the borer to moving into other states). Fortunately, this insect only attacks ash trees but still could wreck the industry surrounding this wood.

Asian Longhorned Beetle photo from
R. Anson Eaglin of USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Ser¬vice (APHIS)


Now our neighboring state to the west has another nasty insect to deal with and let’s hope this one doesn’t come close to our borders. The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was discovered in June in western Ohio. This beetle is even more troublesome in that it goes after a variety of hardwood trees that include maple, horse chestnut, mountain ash, mimosa, birch, hackberry, katsura, golden raintree, sycamore, poplar, willow, elm, and ash.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Ser­vice (APHIS) considers Pennsylvania at risk
because infested wood may have moved to this area.

Damage by the ALB occurs out of site. The female lays eggs on the bark and the tiny larva that hatch burrow under the bark and start feeding. Over time, they destroy the vascular system (the plumbing) and the tree dies.

Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the nation’s leader in the production of hardwood lumber and maples make up much of that timber. Millions of dollars could be lost if maples go by the wayside. In addition, if this insect ever makes it into our state, it could adversely affect maple sugar processors, severely impact the nursery industry, and put a damper on Pennsylvania’s beautiful fall foliage season. How attractive would Renovo’s Flaming Foliage Festival be without the fall colors of maple?

To give you an idea on how concerned authorities are, you need to look no further than the plan of action in a site where ALB was found. The beetle was positively identified in Worcester, MA in early August 2008. A survey was completed to determine the spread of the infestation and all infested trees were cut down and either chipped or burned from that area. Next, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) treated 96,000 trees susceptible to the (ALB) in the spring with an insecticide. This was a very labor and money intensive control program.

If this one ever gets loose beyond its isolated pockets the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Ser¬vice (APHIS) estimates that the ALB “has the potential to damage such industries as lumber, maple syrup, nursery, commercial fruit, and tourism accumulating over $41 billion in losses. Now you can see why a lot of time and effort is thrown at this insect.