Emerald Ash Borer

Species: Emerald Ash Borer/planipennis

Genus: Agrilus

Family: Buprestidae/Metallic Wood-boring Beetles

Identification: “Adult: elytra bright metallic green; pronotum golden-green; ventral surface lighter yellowish-green (with fine hairs in males, lacking in females); body narrow and elongate; head flat; eyes kidney-shaped, black; dorsal surface of abdomen metallic purplish-red, visible when wings are spreadgenerally larger and brighter green than native NA spp.

Larva: body white to cream-colored, dorso-ventrally flattened; head brown, mostly retracted into prothorax; abdomen 10-segmented with pair of brown pincer-like appendages on last segment; segments 5-8 widen posteriorly, giving the abdomen a serrated appearance when viewed from above” (BugGuide, n.d.). 

Habitats: “classified as either the dominant or co-dominant species in 150 North American forest and shrubland communities” (BugGuide, n.d.). 

Similar species: Agrilus bilineatus/two-lined chestnut borer; Arilus anxius/bronze birch borer. (Parsons, 2008)

Invasive characteristics: EAB feeds on ash trees which harms and kills the trees. “Long-term ecological impacts of eab could also be profound.  Ash species grow on a variety of soil and sites across much of the eastern U.S. Mortality of ash due to eab will affect forest ecosystems and biodiversity.  Ash trees provide browse, thermal cover and protection for a variety of wildlife species and seeds are consumed by many birds, small mammals and insects” (USDA, 2016). 

“Laboratory trials suggest that all 16 species of North American Fraxinus spp. may be suitable hosts for larval development of EAB and thus are susceptible to attack” (BugGuide, n.d.). 

Removal/remediation strategies: “For urban forests, researchers found that periodic injections of systemic insecticides can successfully protect ash trees from decline and mortality as EAB invades a community.  In natural forests, biological control is being used to suppress high EAB populations, thereby helping to conserve some surviving and regenerating ash for future generations” (USDA, 2017). 

Lafayette Park has ash trees that were treated by Arborjet in order to reduce the EAB. “Arborjet Inc. has partnered with the St. Louis Forestry Department to “adopt” the ash trees in Lafayette Square. Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a bright metallic green beetle originally found in eastern Asia. The tiny beetle feeds and breeds exclusively on ash trees” (Nursery management, 2018). 

BugGuide. (n.d.). Species agrilus planipennis- emerald ash borer. https://bugguide.net/node/view/27565

Nursery mangement. (2018, June 6). Arborjet works with St. Louis to treat ash trees. https://www.nurserymag.com/article/arborjet-treats-ash-in-st-louis-lafayette-park/

Parsons, G. (2008). Emerald ash borer: A guide to identification and comparison to similar species. http://www.emeraldashborer.info/documents/eab_id_guide.pdf

USDA United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. (2016, December 13). Emerald ash borer: effects and impacts. https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/eab/effects_impacts/

USDA United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. (2017, December 5). Emerald ash borer: control and management. https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/disturbance/invasive_species/eab/control_management/