Michigan Invasive Species: Emerald Ash Borer
All week long we’re profiling invasive species on Michigan in Pictures and Absolute Michigan. Today we move to dry land with this little fellow, the emerald ash borer, an exotic pest that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone. The central web site is emeraldashborer.info and they explain:
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the summer of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Emerald ash borer probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture has information on the ash borer including on what to do if you think you have a tree infested by the emerald ash borer and please don’t move firewood!! We’ll close with a video about the emerald ash borer…