Country: United States

Title: Knox and Loudon Counties, Tennessee added to the quarantine area for Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis)

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

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the identification of EAB in Knox County, Tennessee, on July 22, 2010. The detection in Knox County was the result of an Ohio, Division of Forestry employee working for the EAB Program noticing symptomatic trees at a truck stop in Knoxville. We are also including neighboring Loudon County as part of the quarantine area due to proximity to the detection and known movement patterns of regulated articles.

In response to this detection, APHIS will work closely with the State of Tennessee to carry out delimiting survey work around the detection site. The Federal Order establishes these counties as quarantine areas in order to prevent the further spread of EAB. Effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB regulated articles from Knox and Loudon Counties must be done in accordance with the Federal Order. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from Knox and Loudon Counties is regulated, including ash nursery stock, firewood of all hardwood species, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips of ash species. Due to the establishment of a parallel quarantine area by Tennessee, only these counties will be established as quarantine areas and placed under phytosanitary controls.

EAB is present in some parts of the United States. Currently, Brown, Crawford, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Vernon, Washington, and Waukesha Counties in Wisconsin are quarantine areas for EAB, together with the entire States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Portions of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the entirety of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula; twenty one counties in Kentucky; Charles and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland; Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudon, and Prince William Counties, along with the independent Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park in Virginia; Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties in New York; Allamakee County in Iowa, Hennepin, Houston and Ramsey Counties in Minnesota; Wayne County in Missouri; and Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania are also quarantine areas.

EAB is an invasive wood boring beetle that is native to China and eastern Asia. It was first detected in the United States in southeastern Michigan. Since then, EAB has been responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in the United States. The interstate movement of firewood from quarantine areas is an especially high risk pathway for spreading EAB. APHIS is working with State cooperators and foresters to raise awareness amongst the public concerning this threat.

Under IPPC Standards, 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: Sept. 15, 2010, 9 a.m.