The
Ohio Department of Agriculture, with consultation from a multi-agency
Task Force of experts, has developed a strategy to detect Emerald Ash Borer in Ohio and to slow the spread of the devastating insect. The program, which complements the nation's regional response, started when the insect was first detected in Ohio in 2003. The current program focuses on detection, regulation, and education.
Detection to Find the Pest
The Emerald Ash Borer spreads naturally less than one-half mile per year. However, it spreads much quicker through the movement of firewood and ash logs, ash tree nursery stock, and other parts of infested ash trees. Knowing this, ODA is combing the landscapes and woodlots throughout the state to look for EAB populations that exist but have not yet been detected. The purple trap program uses existing ash trees donated by property owners throughout Ohio.
Quarantine to Slow the Pest
When EAB is discovered in Ohio, a quarantine is placed on the county to limit the movement of materials that may harbor the insect. Ohio's quarantine prohibits the movement of ash trees, parts of an ash tree, and all hardwood firewood out of quarantined areas. The quarantine is designed to slow the spread of EAB, ultimately buying time for research to develop survey, treatment, and perhaps, eradication tools.
Currently, 53 counties or parts of counties are quarantined in Ohio. Ash trees and hardwood firewood can freely move within quarantined counties and between contiguous quarantined counties but cannot move into uninfested counties. For a list of quarantined counties or a map of the current quarantine, click here.
Businesses regularly handling tree materials can continue work in quarantined areas with an ODA compliance agreement. The signed agreement outlines handling stipulations that mitigate the spread of EAB while allowing commerce to continue in quarantined areas. Sawmills, loggers, firewood dealers, mulch manufacturers, and other tree handling businesses can find more information here or call ODA at 1-888-OHIO-EAB.
In addition to the state quarantine, USDA has quarantined the state of Ohio, making it illegal to move ash trees, parts of an ash tree, and all hardwood firewood out of Ohio without federal certification.
Education to Battle the Pest
To help protect the state's and the nation's valued landscapes and hardwood forests, the state is encouraging citizens to join in the beetle battle by:
- Monitoring ash trees for the signs and symptoms of EAB. Citizens should look for typical stressed tree signs; small, distinct D-shaped holes; S-shaped tunneling beneath the bark; and unusual woodpecker activity on ash trees. Citizens can report signs to the department at 1-888-OHIO-EAB.
- Buying local firewood and burning local firewood. It only takes one piece of infested ash firewood to kill thousands of trees. Citizens should be familiar with the quarantine, abide by the quarantine, and not move firewood. For the latest quarantine map, click here.
- Spreading the word, not the bug. Educational materials and local experts are available to help educate local communities, industries, and citizens. For more information on what expert to contact on different topics, click here.
Eradicate to Eliminate the Pest
In the past, eradication, or tree-cutting, has been a prominent part of Ohio's program to battle EAB. At the current time, there are no tree cutting projects occurring in the state of Ohio.
Currently, the only known way to eliminate EAB from an area is to destroy the infested ash trees. The eradication process includes cutting down all ash trees within one-half mile (the natural spread of the insect) of an infested tree and chipping them to less than an inch to destroy the larvae living beneath the bark. This process, as recommended by a National EAB Science Advisory Panel, is a tool to combat small, isolated infestations.
