What’s the status of the emerald ash borer in Kentucky?
The very first infestations of the EAB were confirmed in May 2009 from sites in Jessamine and Shelby counties. Go to the Kentucky EAB website for the most recent information. http://pest.ca.uky.edu/EXT/EAB/welcome.html
What makes an EAB infestation “official”?
The initial confirmation of EAB in a county should be based on the collection of a life stage of the insect- generally a larva or an adult. Larvae or adults gathered from ash wood ought to be preserved in alcohol. Specimens are sent to the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service for confirmation before the insect is regarded as officially present. An exit hole or larval gallery in wood isn’t sufficient to make a positive identification.
What happens after an identification is confirmed?
The county will be placed under quarantine to stop movement of infested articles and a survey will start to figure out the extent of the infestation. A management strategy will be created following the extent of the infestation and also the density of ash in the area has been determined.
On June 24, 2009, a quarantine was issued to include Boone, Bourbon, Campbell, Carroll, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Kenton, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Scott, Shelby, Trimble and Woodford counties. The quarantined region consists of counties with confirmed infestations, those close to the infestations, and counties having a high density of ash trees.
What does a quarantine accomplish?
The quarantine prohibits “regulated articles” from being moved beyond the quarantine area with out a certificate or restricted permit except under particular conditions. A regulated article may be moved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for experimental or scientific purposes; may be moved in an enclosed vehicle or completely covered to stop access by the emerald ash borer.
“Regulated articles” are defined as the emerald ash borer, hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock, green ash lumber, other ash material, and any other materials that present a threat of artificial spread from the emerald ash borer. Regulated articles which have not been treated may be moved out of the quarantine region throughout the non-flight season (October thru March) with a restricted permit. Both the shipper and receiver must have compliance agreements and also the processing mill must process the materials by April 1.
The EAB is in Kentucky to stay and its distribution in the state will continue to expand. A sound strategy for living with it has been created based upon study findings and experiences from older infestations. The challenge would be to do every thing we can to make the strategy work and discover to manage the EAB.
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