Country: United States

Title: Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)- Establishment of Quarantine Area in Ramsey and Hennepin Counties, Minnesota - United States

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

Report:

The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the identification of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), in Ramsey County, Minnesota, on May 18, 2009. The detection in Ramsey County was the result of a report of declining ash trees by a private tree care service.

In response to this detection, APHIS is working closely with the State of Minnesota to carry out delimiting surveys around the detection site. Ramsey County and neighboring Hennepin County are included in the quarantine area. Hennepin County is being included in the quarantine area due to the close proximity of the infestation. Effective immediately, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from these counties is regulated, including firewood of all hardwood species, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. Due to the establishment of a parallel quarantine area by Minnesota, only the county with EAB and an immediately adjacent county will be established as quarantine areas and placed under phytosanitary controls.

EAB is present in some parts of the United States. Currently, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence, Mercer, and Mifflin Counties in Pennsylvania are quarantine areas for EAB, together with the entire States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Portions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the entirety of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Prince George’s, and Charles Counties in Maryland, and Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudon, and Prince Williams Counties, along with the independent Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park in Virginia, Fayette County in West Virginia, Wayne County in Missouri, Houston County in Minnesota, and Crawford, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Sheboygan, Vernon, and Washington Counties in Wisconsin are also quarantine areas.

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 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 than 30 million ash trees in the United States. The interstate movement of firewood from quarantine 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, Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is considered to be a pest that is present in some parts of the United States and subject to official control to prevent further spread.

 

Posted Date: June 11, 2009, 9 a.m.