Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

NEWS

Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week

Louisiana Quarantine Established

May 15, 2015

Emerald ash borer. Photo by David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org.

Baton Rouge, La. (May 15, 2015) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) declared May 18-24, 2015 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Awareness Week.  Meanwhile, a quarantine will be established for Webster Parish effective May 25, 2015 as a result of EAB’s presence in Louisiana.

EAB is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees.

“The EAB pest is a problem in our area and poses a threat because of the number of ash trees we have here. There are approximately 285 million ash trees in the state of Louisiana,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.

Louisiana’s native ash trees are primarily located along the Atchafalaya Basin and the Mississippi River Delta. However, there are ash trees in urban areas, as well.

Strain added, “In urban areas, the trees reduce air pollution and storm water runoff, increase property values because of their aesthetic appeal and make towns and cities some of the most beautiful in the country.”

Spring marks the beginning of the travel and tourism season. This is a reminder of how destructive EAB is and how important it is for travelers to limit movement of firewood, a key message in the national “Don’t Move Firewood” campaign.

“It is best to purchase firewood not more than 10 miles from where it will be burned.  When traveling, burn firewood where you purchased it and make sure to burn all of it,” said Strain.

Currently, there are approximately 300 EAB traps placed along high risk areas such as along the interstate, welcome center areas and the Mississippi River Delta. The traps are large, purple sticky boxes that hang from trees in areas that are being monitored for EAB.

The EAB beetle is a pest to all types of ash trees but does not attack other hardwoods or pines. EAB is a native insect of Asia. In 2002, EAB was discovered in Michigan and is now present in 25 states, including Louisiana. It is not known how the EAB entered Louisiana. EAB is a federally-regulated pest.  States survey for EAB and if it is found, quarantine boundaries are established by the state.

The LDAF and USDA-PPQ, along with cooperation from USDA-Forest Service and National Resources Conservation Service use traps baited with scents which are attractive to the beetles. Survey results will help determine the extent of the beetle presence in the state and the potential regulatory actions necessary to reduce the spread of the pest.

Also, the LSU Agricultural Center and the USDA-FS plan to release tiny non-stinging wasps that exclusively attack immature EAB.  This effort is used in other states as one method to reduce EAB populations and slow beetle spread on a local scale.

When a portion of the state falls under the EAB quarantine, then regulated products including ash nursery stock, ash logs, lumber and pallets and all hardwood firewood cannot move outside of the quarantined area unless treated according to federal protocols.

For more information about emerald ash borer or firewood movement, visit: www.emeraldashborer.info  or www.dontmovefirewood.org.

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