State
Officials Confirm Emerald Ash Borer Detected in Massachusetts for First
Time
Boston – September 12, 2012 –
Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR) and the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR)
today announced that the Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been detected in
Massachusetts. The destructive beetle was detected in the western
Massachusetts town of Dalton on August 31, 2012, and was confirmed by
federal officials on September 6. Massachusetts is the 18th state in the
country to detect EAB.
DCR and DAR officials are working together, in collaboration with the
United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS) and the USDA’s United States Forest Service
to take a number of swift proactive steps aimed at preventing the spread
of the invasive beetle, including:
· Defining a quarantine area that would only allow the movement of
certain wood products under certain conditions.
· A de-limiting survey to help identify the extent of the infestation.
· Working with stakeholders to ensure they know how to properly treat or
dispose of infested trees and materials.
· A survey with federal agencies to determine how long the area in which
EAB has been present in our state, information which will help determine
strategies in how to best address the threat.
· DCR will also maintain a ban that has been in place against bringing
any firewood into state parks and forests.
“The Emerald ash borer brings a very serious threat to our ash trees,
and we are not taking its presence lightly,” said DCR Commissioner Ed
Lambert. “We are taking swift action to address the infestation, and are
working to mitigate any impact an infestation could bring.”
“Together with DCR, we are moving forward to develop and implement the
best strategies to contain this invasive pest,” said DAR Commissioner
Greg Watson.
Regulated items that would fall under quarantine include the following:
· The Emerald ash borer, in any living stage of development;
· Firewood of all hardwood species;
· Nursery stock of the genus (Ash);
· Green lumber of the genus (Ash);
· Other material living, dead, cut, or fallen, including logs,
stumps, roots, branches, and composted and uncomposted chips of the
genus (Ash);
· Any other article, product, or means of conveyance that an
inspector determines presents a risk of spreading Emerald ash borer and
notifies the person in possession of the article, product, or means of
conveyance that it is subject to the restrictions of the regulations.
The EAB is a small, flying beetle, native to Asia. It was first
discovered in North America in 2002, in the Detroit, Michigan area.
Unlike other invasive beetles, the EAB can kill a tree fast, within just
a few years, because it bores directly under the bark, where the tree’s
conductive system is. Since its discovery in North America, it has
killed millions of ash trees and has caused billions of dollars in
economic loss across the nation.
Ash is a main component of the Northern Hardwood forest in Massachusetts
and is a common species in the Berkshires. Ash is also a common street
tree in eastern Massachusetts.
Residents are urged to take the time to learn the signs of EAB tree
damage and be sure to report any sightings.
· Look for tiny, D-shaped exit holes in the bark of ash trees, die-back
in the upper third of the tree canopy, and sprouting of branches just
below this dead area.
· The Emerald ash borer is a tiny, emerald-green metallic beetle, so
small that seven of them could fit on the head of a penny.
To report suspicious tree damage or insect sightings, or to learn more
about this pest, visit
www.massnrc.org/pests. You can also call the toll free EAB hotline
at 1-866-322-4512 .
More information about EAB: http://emeraldashborer.info
Follow Secretary Sullivan on Twitter……………………..twitter.com/massEEA
View videos on You Tube………………………………….www.youtube.com/MassEEA
View downloadable photographs on Flickr:.................
www.flickr.com/photos/masseea/sets/
Visit the Energy Smarts blog:....................................
www.mass.gov/blog/energy
Visit The Great Outdoors blog:….………………………..www.mass.gov/blog/environment
Visit our
website:.......................................................
www.mass.gov/eea
|