Country: United States

Title: Sixteen counties in New York added to the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) quarantine area

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

Report: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the identification of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), in Genesee, Greene, Livingston, Monroe, Steuben, and Ulster counties, New York, in June and July, 2010. These detections were the result of the 2010 EAB surveys. Ten additional counties are being added to the EAB-quarantine area due to their proximity to known infestations and movement patterns of regulated articles.

In response to these detections, APHIS will continue to work closely with the State of New York to carry-out delimiting survey work and other response activities around the detection sites. The Federal Order establishes Allegany, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Greene, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Ulster, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties as quarantine areas in order to prevent the further spread of EAB. Effective immediately, all interstate movement of EAB-regulated articles from Allegany, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Greene, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Steuben, Ulster, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties must be handled in accordance with the Federal Order. Specifically, the interstate movement of EAB-host wood and wood products from these 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 New York, only these counties will be added as quarantine areas and placed under phytosanitary controls.

EAB is present in some portions of the United States. Currently, Brown, Crawford, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Vernon, Washington, and Waukesha counties in Wisconsin are established EAB-quarantine areas, 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; Allamakee county in Iowa; 21 counties in Kentucky; 43 counties in Pennsylvania; 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, Manassas Park and Winchester in Virginia; Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in New York; Hennepin, Houston and Ramsey counties in Minnesota; Knox and Loudon counties in Tennessee; and Wayne county in Missouri 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 quarantined 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 pest and of the potential threats associated with long distance movement of firewood.

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: Oct. 22, 2010, 9 a.m.