Country: United States

Title: Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Fairfax County, Virginia

Contact:
Paul Chaloux, Acting EAB National Program Manager, at (301) 734-0917

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the identification of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), in Fairfax County, Virginia, on July 9, 2008. This EAB detection is in close proximity to Dulles International Airport. The initial detection was made on July 7, 2008, by an employee from the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDF), who noticed several suspect EAB exit holes. The VDF informed the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) who, in turn, notified APHIS of the suspect EAB find.

On July 8, 2008, APHIS and VDACS personnel visited the suspect EAB site in Fairfax, Virginia. One partially emerged adult and two dead adult beetles were recovered and sent to an APHIS Identifier in Michigan, who confirmed their identity as EAB. In response to this detection, APHIS is working closely with the State of Virginia to carry out delimiting surveys around the initial detection site. Further, it is necessary for APHIS to quarantine this infested area in order to prevent the further spread of EAB. Accordingly, effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB regulated articles from Fairfax County must be done in accordance with the Federal Order. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from Fairfax County is regulated, including firewood of all hardwoods species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. The Federal Order allows Virginia 30 days from July 11, 2008, to place an equivalent parallel quarantine in place for EAB, otherwise it will be necessary to quarantine the entire State as an EAB quarantine area.

EAB is present in some parts of the United States. Currently, the entire States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois are quarantined for EAB, together with portions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the entirety of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and Prince George’s County in Maryland. Four counties in western Pennsylvania are also under quarantine and EAB was detected last year in one county in West Virginia. EAB is an invasive wood boring beetle that is native to China and eastern Asia. EAB probably arrived in North America hidden in wood packing materials commonly used to ship consumer and other goods. It was first detected in the United States in southeastern Michigan. Since then, EAB has been responsible for the death and decline of more that 25 million ash trees in the United States. The interstate movement of firewood from quarantined areas is an especially high risk pathway for spreading EAB, and APHIS is working with State cooperators and foresters to raise awareness about this threat among the public.

Under IPPC standards, the emerald ash borer is considered to be a pest that is present, only in some areas and subject to official control in the United States.
 

Posted Date: July 15, 2008, 9 a.m.