Ash tree worries
Relentless bug’s ongoing spread threatens Ohio wood, area jobsBy Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.com
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Fact Box
Emerald ash borer
Exotic beetle, first discovered in America near Detroit in 2002.
It probably came from China in wood packing materials.
Attacks only ash trees and kills the tree within three to five years of infestation.
Has already killed more than 40 million ash trees in southeastern Michigan with tens of millions more lost in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.
Adult beetles are metallic green and about half an inch long.
Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark of the tree when they emerge in spring.
Woodpeckers like to eat the larvae of the ash borer. Heavy woodpecker damage on trees may be a sign of infestation.
Quarantines have been enforced with fines to prevent potential infested ash trees, logs or hardwood firewood from moving out of the area where the ash borer occurs.
For more information in Ohio: www.ashalert.osu.edu or 1-800-OHIO-EAB.
Source: www.emeraldashborer.info and www.ohioagriculture.gov/EAB/
The emerald ash borer continues its march south along the Ohio 33 corridor, and as the infestation spreads, the lumber industry in Ohio is watching closely and preparing for life after ash.
"We're struggling to get ash logs now," said Jim Basham, mill manager and log buyer with Ames True Temper of Dexter City, 20 miles north of Marietta along Interstate 77. "Most of our logs come from the north. If we can't get any, we'll have to go to Plan B."
In the summer of 2002, the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle from China, was discovered near Detroit, thought to have come into the country on solid wood packing materials on a cargo ship or airplane. It was found in Ohio in 2003, and since its arrival, the insect has killed more than 40 million hardwood ash trees in southeastern Michigan and millions in Ohio and surrounding states.
This non-native species has already been found in Union, Delaware, Fairfield and Franklin counties and it's just a matter of time before the infestation reaches Washington County, said Eric Barrett, agriculture educator with the Ohio State University Extension.
"It isn't will it get here, but when," he said. "We are closely monitoring this.
"Michigan is one of the hardest-hit areas," Barrett said. "If you drive along the highways up there, you will see dead trees all over the place. Sales of ash trees are way down."
Adult beetles nibble on the foliage of the tree, causing little damage, experts say. But their offspring, as larvae, feed on the inner bark of the ash tree, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and sap.
"If you find an ash borer, the tree is most likely already dead," Barrett said.
The Ames plant, which employs 18 people and manufactures primarily ash handles for lawn and garden tools and equipment, is scrambling for options of other materials, such as poplar and hickory to fill future needs. Still, they would prefer to have ash, because it results in better quality for their products, said Jeff Sanford, procurement manager for the company.
"The grain, texture, ash just makes a pretty handle," said Basham, who remembers a time when ash logs were piled outside the mill as high as the eye could see.
Sanford travels throughout the region and has seen the damage done by the ash borer in adjoining states.
"It has already adversely affected us, but we haven't missed a day's work," Sanford said. "We can only slow it down. Long-term, we will have to look at other options (other species of wood), and we already have plans under way to do that."
Ash is still being processed at Haessly Hardwood Lumber Co. on Ohio 7 north of Reno, but owner Jack Haessly is aware of the ash borer's advance. Although other wood could be used, Haessly said the ash borer could wipe out a valuable species of wood and do great economic damage to landowners.
"It's a big concern," he said, "in our area, because of how much ash grows in the Appalachian region, especially."
Haessly said the local invasion of the ash borer may be years away.
"We may be safe for many years, with no problem, but if it were brought into this area on firewood or shrubbery, that would speed up the process," he said.
Not since Dutch elm disease wiped out Marietta's stately stand of elm trees in the late 1950s has a threat to hardwood trees been quite so serious.
"There are a lot of ash trees in Marietta, in our parks and in our private yards," said Marilyn Ortt, naturalist, former botanist with the state of Ohio and member of the Marietta Tree Commission. "This is a common tree in our area, one that has been planted here for many years."
Purple boxes have been hung on trees along Interstate 77 in Washington County to monitor movement of the adult beetle, Barrett said.
"If a couple show up in the traps, we know we have them here," he said. "So far, none have been found in Washington County. We are watching closely."
Campers may hold the golden key to stopping, or at least slowing, the progress of the insect, Barrett said.
"Don't move firewood," he said. "If you go camping, purchase firewood in the county where you are camping. Do not take it along, and do not bring leftover wood back with you."
Ortt says keeping your own trees healthy is one way to protect the ash.
"Water them, mulch well, don't knick the tree with your mower, and treat all your trees with respect," she said. "Ash borers primarily attack distressed trees."
Ortt says she is still holding out hope that a predator or predators will be discovered to bring the growing ash borer population under control.
"Wisconsin has already released three species of wasp in hopes of stopping the ash borer," she said. "There is hope. The insects move one-half mile a year. We must slow the movement."
Not moving firewood is the single best way to do this, Ortt said.
West Virginia had no ash borer infestation until it suddenly showed up in the New River area, more than 100 miles away from Marietta.
"How do you think it got there?" she said. "We know it didn't fly. It's also coming down (Ohio) 33 into Hocking County. There is a lot of camping there too."
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Francia
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08-14-08 8:57 AM
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I am so glad that our city has purchased equipment to treat the EAB. Some say they are not sure about its success, but there have been many studies showing it is. The equipment we purchased was 7k, as opposed to the many thousands of dollars to have them removed. We have two on our city line section of our yard. They are beautiful and I would hate to lose them. Wapakoneta may be the pioneer in the state for taking this measure.
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