The State of Kansas implemented a quarantine zone to prevent the further spread of a small beetle that causes big problems. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the emerald ash borer is now in Kansas.
The first-ever presence of emerald ash borer in Kansas was confirmed in Wyandotte County on August 29. State and federal agriculture officials conducted a widespread survey after the insect was confirmed in Platte County, Missouri in July.
The staff identified a tree during the visual survey that showed the telltale symptoms.
They removed a portion of the tree and sent it to a USDA lab in Michigan, where inspectors removed a live insect from the sample on August 29.
“In Kansas, we have worked for years on emerald ash borer prevention and surveillance efforts. These vigilant surveillance efforts allowed us to catch the pest early,” said Jeff Vogel, KDA Plant Protection and Weed Control program manager. “We are making additional plans right now for increased surveillance efforts to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer.”
Emerald ash borer, which is a pest of ash trees that is native to Asia, was first discovered in North America near Detroit, Mich., in summer 2002. Since that time, the pest has killed millions of ash trees in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky, New York, Iowa, Tennessee and Connecticut. Financially, the United States risks an economic loss of $20 billion to $60 billion because of this pest.
Immediately after confirmation by USDA, Kansas implemented an emergency intrastate quarantine for Wyandotte County to prevent further spread of emerald ash borer in Kansas. The quarantine prohibits movement of regulated items from the quarantined area, except under specific conditions established in the quarantine order.
Regulated items under quarantine include the following:
The emerald ash borer, (Agrilus planipennis [Coleoptera: Buprestidae]), in any living stage of development;
Firewood of all hardwood (non-coniferous) species;
Nursery stock of the genus Fraxinus (Ash);
Green lumber of the genus Fraxinus (Ash);
Other material living, dead, cut, or fallen, including logs, stumps, roots, branches, and composted and uncomposted chips of the genus Fraxinus (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 quarantine, effective as of August 29, will remain in effect for a period of 90 days or until rescinded or modified by order of Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman.