description Emerald Ash Borer Overview
The emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is a metallic-green wood-boring beetle in the jewel beetle family Buprestidae. Native to parts of Asia, it was first detected in North America in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. Its larvae feed beneath ash-tree bark, damaging the tissues that transport water and nutrients; the infestation has killed tens of millions of ash trees in North America.
help Emerald Ash Borer FAQ
What is the emerald ash borer's scientific name?
Its scientific name is Agrilus planipennis, a metallic-green beetle in the jewel beetle family Buprestidae. The adult is small, but the larvae do the most serious damage inside ash trees.
When was emerald ash borer first found in North America?
It was first detected in North America in 2002 near Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. The beetle is native to parts of Asia, so that discovery marked an invasive range in North America.
How does emerald ash borer kill ash trees?
The larvae feed in tunnels beneath the bark, cutting through the tree's water and nutrient pathways. Repeated larval galleries can weaken and kill ash trees even when the metallic-green adults are hard to spot.
What signs should I look for on an ash tree?
Common clues include winding larval galleries under the bark and D-shaped adult exit holes in the trunk or branches. Because Agrilus planipennis attacks ash, signs on another tree species would point to a different pest.
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