Timeline of EAB detection in PA
JUNE 2007
An adult emerald ash borer was collected on a green ash tree in a non-residential landscape in Butler County, Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. On June 27, 2007 the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine for Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence Counties in western Pennsylvania. Ground surveys are being conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine; Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Division of Forest Pest Management; Pennsylvania State University, Cooperative Extension, Department of Entomology; and certified arborists to further delineate the extent of the infestation. On Friday, June 29, 2007 emerald ash borer was confirmed in Allegheny County, Marshall Township.
JUNE 2008
In late June 2008 the emerald ash borer was found in West Middlesex, Mercer County, Pennsylvania. The detection occurred approximately 0.5 mile from Ohio on ash trees at the Welcome Center along the eastbound lanes of I-80. It's believed that this infestation had been present at this site for several years. These ash trees have been removed and were properly disposed of in late September 2008.
FEBRUARY 2009
The emerald ash borer was identified in Granville, Mifflin County, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff announced on February 25, 2009. This beetle was first detected in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2007 in Butler County and was found again the following summer in Mercer County. To help slow the spread of the beetle, a state-imposed quarantine for Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties will now be expanded to include Mifflin County. State and federal emerald ash borer quarantines restrict the movement from the quarantine area of ash nursery stock, green lumber and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, and all wood chips. "Our survey crews are assessing the extent of the infestation in Mifflin County and surrounding areas," said Wolff. "We remind consumers to heed the quarantine when traveling and camping this spring and summer-not just in the quarantined areas but throughout Pennsylvania-to prevent any further spread of the beetle."
Greg Hoover, ornamental entomologist with Penn State's Department of Entomology was also informed that an EAB extension training session conducted for master gardeners in Mifflin County resulted in one of the master gardeners in attendance placing the EAB information shared at the training session on their blog. A Mifflin County resident saw the EAB information on this master gardener's blog and then contacted the appropriate authorities. This indeed highlights the importance of Penn State Cooperative Extension educational programming and public outreach.
JUNE 2009
Emerald Ash Borer beetles have been found in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, bringing to seven the number of counties where the ash tree-destroying pest has been identified, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff announced. A Westmoreland County crew detected the new infestation.
Surveys conducted in Pennsylvania during the summer of 2009 also detected the emerald ash borer in Washington, Armostrong, and Indiana counties. Twenty crews working with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture spent the summer of 2009 assessing the spread of the emerald ash borer.
October 2009
A total of 11 Pennsylvania counties are now under an order of quaratine for the emerald ash borer. Juniata County was added to this list late in October.
The general public is reminded of the quarantine that is in effect throughout Pennsylvania with hopes of preventing any further spread of the beetle.
