EAB UpdateLee Townsend

Extension Entomologist

Agenda

• Identification and Impact• Current status• Control options – Homeowner & Commercial

applicator• Biological control• General information and questions

EAB calendar

Feeding June - October

Inactive October - April

Adults mid-May – July

Adults out mid-May

Pupa April - May

• Larvae feed under bark June – October; disrupt transport of water, nutrients, carbohydrates

• Healthy trees killed within 2-3 years of first symptoms

Emerald ash borer in KY

•Emerald ash borer - KYhttp://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/EAB/welcome.html

•EAB info - UShttp://www.emeraldashborer.info/

12 counties > 5 mill ash stems54 counties > 2 mill

2012 EAB Risk Map

Red = infestedBrown = highOrange = mediumYellow = low

EAB Survey2012 – 1,700 traps

Year Traps Positive Counties

# Beetles

2008 3,065 0 02009 5,665 10 2002010 6,000 9 1822011 6,825 11 219

New 2011AndersonBracken

BoyleGarrard HardinScott

Woodford

Anderson, Franklin, Henry, Owen,Shelby, Woodford

Boone, Kenton, Campbell

Greenup - Boyd

Boyle - Garrard

Fayette - Jessamine

Hardin

Jefferson – Oldham

2012 Adult emergence

1st emergence mid- May450 to 500 dd base 50

Peak June – Julyabout 750 dd

70 to 140 dd ahead for 2012

Ohio State Recommendations

• Imidacloprid when EAB first found – within 15 mi high risk – in quarantine zone – low to moderate risk

• Use Tree-äge when EAB pressure increases• Use high rate of Tree-äge at infestation peak• Monitor and treat as needed after peak

infestation

Treatment Options• Systemic Soil Injections / Drenches:– Imidacloprid (e.g. Merit, Xytect, Bayer Advanced Tree

& Shrub 12 Month Insect Control)– Dinotefuran

• Systemic Trunk Injections: – Imidacloprid (IMA-jet, Imicide) – Emamectin benzoate (TREE-äge)

• Systemic Trunk Sprays:– Dinotefuron (Safari)

• Bark and canopy sprays: Astro, Onyx

Realistic Expectations

• Insecticides can protect ash trees from EAB; success is not guaranteed

• Insecticides are not effective in eradicating infestations

Homeowner options

• 12 mo Tree & Shrub (imidacloprid)• 12 mo Tree & Shrub (dinetofuran)• Ace Caps (acephate)

Imidacloprid (12 month products)

Product Rate/ in $/inchTree & Shrub (1.47%)

quart1 fl oz $0.60

($.20 dia)Protect & Feed (1.47%)

quart1 fl oz $0.71

Landscape Formula (2.94%) gal

0.5 fl oz $0.53

Granular Tree & Shrub + Fertilizer (1.1%)

0.25 cup ?

Dinotefuran (Safari)

• Green Light Emerald Ash Borer Killer (2% G)• Tree & Shrub Insect Control with Safari 1/2 to 2/3 cup per inch of tree diameter• Apply early to mid-May

$5.33/lb$5.70/lb

Acecap 3/8” Insecticide Implants

• 5 per pack $9.50 -

Arborists / Commercial Applicators

Imidacloprid (Group 4)

• Drench, soil injection, trunk injection • Merit, Xytect, etc.

Safari 20 SG Insecticide (dinotefuran) (Group 4)

• Trunk spray – 12 to 24 oz/gal • Use 1 gal per 40” to 50” trunk dbh• 1 – 4 weeks for uptake• Spray from root flare to 4’ to 5’ above ground• Low pressure - 10 to 20 psi• Do not apply to wet bark or within 12 hrs of

rain

Safari 20 SG Insecticide

• $390 / 3 lb container

• Low rate = $2.48/ in circumference

• High rate = $3.10 /in circumference

Tree-äge Emamectin benzoate

• Restricted Use – Acute human toxicity• $559/liter• $399 injector• Cordless drill

• $3.15/ inch circumference• 3 yrs with high rate

Professional Use ProductsSoil injection / Drench Application

Imidacloprid Merit April to May

Trunk injectionImidacloprid IMA-jet Arborjet May to June

Imicide Mauget May to JunePointer Wedgle May to June

Bidrin Injecticide- B Mauget May to JuneEmamectin Tree-age Arbojet MaybenzoateTrunk Spray**Dinotefuran Safari + PentraBark April to May

Professional Use Products

Preventive Bark & Foliage Cover Spraysbifenthrin Onyxcarbaryl Sevincyfluthrin Tempopermethrin Astro

2x at 4-week intervals – 1st application at black locust bloom

Trunk Injections

• Absorbed more quickly than drench• Large trees > 12” dbh• Where drenches are not practical –

near water, etc.• Potentially injure trunk, especially if

repeated

Summary• Insecticides can offer protection

against EAB• Success not assured – annual

treatments may be needed• Factors in successful treatment not

understood yet• Inventory ash – set priorities

1 CEU – Cat 10

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Lee.Townsend@uky.edu

Importing natural enemies

Spathius agrili

• Attacks EAB larvae – detects infested trees, injects egg into EAB larva

• Affects up to 90% of EAB larvae in Chinese trees

• 3 to 4 generations per year• Winter as pupae under bark

Tertastichus plannipennisi

• Attacks EAB larvae – detects infested trees, injects egg into EAB larva

• 50% success rate • Up to 127 adults per EAB larva• Winter as larvae under bark

Oobius agrili

• Attacks EAB egg• At least 4 generations per year• 60% success rate• Up to 62 eggs/wasp• Winter as larvae in egg

Importing natural enemies

Environmental impact

•Are they specific to intended host?•Can they be reared successfully for mass release?•Is our climate suitable?

What does the future hold?

• Will North American ash will follow the model of Dutch elm disease - individual trees have reduced life span but are able to reproduce

• OR American chestnut - individual trees die before they can reproduce

• OR something entirely different

Factoids

• Ash in sunny, open conditions preferred over shaded locations within canopies

• Blue ash appears to be less attractive than green or white but is attacked as other ash species die

• Stressed ash trees may be preferred but once EAB is abundant healthy trees are attacked, too

• 1.5” diameter to mature trees

EAB Hosts

• Only infests ash (Fraxinus) in the US• EAB or “a closely related beetle” in Asian

attacks species of elm, walnut, and Pterocarya (wingnut)

• Green ash appears to decline more rapidly that white ash under similar conditions

Dispersal

• Unassisted rate in Michigan appears to have been about 6 mi/year (0.6 mi/yr cited, too)

• On edges – EAB galleries up to 800 yds from potential source

• BUT most within 100 – 200 yds

• 1.7 mi average by mated female

Eggs

• 50 to 90 eggs / female• In bark crevices• Hatch in about

2 weeks• Rough bark

Alternate hosts

• Given no alternative, female EAB will lay eggs on alternate species

• “Ovipositional mistakes” do occur in the field but appear to be rare

• Privet appears to be a suitable host for small EAB larvae

Recommendations change, keep fishing for new information …

Don’t believe everything you read

Don’t wait too late to ask for help

EAB BiologyLee Townsend

Extension Entomologist

• Saplings may die after 1 year of attack• Large ash trees may die within 3 to 4 years of

initial infestation

Adult feeding

Adults live 3 to 6 weeks

Edge feeding on foliage

Foliage feeding

• 5 to 7 days before mating

• 5 to 7 days after mating

Egg-laying choices (lab)

Larva

• Up to 1 inch long• Feed in phloem

and cambium• Finished by

October

Larvae

• Serpentine galleries in phloem and cambium

• Extensive damage to water-conducting tissue

• Packed with frass

Old wood

New wood

Pupate – mid-April

2 to 3 weeks from start of pupation to and adult