Purple Boxes and Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an exotic, invasive wood-boring insect that is threatening to infest and kill all North American ash species from the genus Fraxinus, like Green Ash and White Ash (the more common ashes), as well as Black Ash and Blue Ash. The borer does NOT infest the unrelated American Mountain Ash, which is in the genus Pyrus. Government agency and Cooperative Extension staff have been monitoring the borer and trying to slow its movement across the USA since it was first sighted in Michigan in 2002. This week we would like to explain a bit about the purple monitoring boxes that you might see as you travel across the state and give you some tips on how you could help slow down the borer’s spread.

So, as for the boxes, we have been hearing some interesting stories about them. They range from “I have no idea what they do” to “they attract beetles that attack ash trees and kill the beetles.” To help clear things up below is some information from a blog maintained by Robert Hansen, Extension Forester, Tioga County Extension office. You can visit his blog at http://www.mypawoods.blogspot.com

The “Purple Boxes” are back in Pennsylvania’s landscape. Cooperating agencies have again hung the purple emerald ash borer “traps” in key areas of the state. Many of them are located along major roads and highways and parks (since people are one of the principle transporters of this insect). The traps are treated with a substance that attracts emerald ash borer to the trap where they get stuck on the sticky surface. Technicians will periodically check the traps for emerald ash borer adults.

Remember, these traps do not attract emerald ash borer into non-infested areas. The purpose of the traps is to determine if the insect is already present in the area. If you see these traps in your travels, please do not disturb them. They can best do their job if they are left undisturbed. And please encourage anyone who may mention them to you to please leave them alone.

If you suspect that you have seen emerald ash borer damage or an adult emerald ash borer, contact your local Cooperative Extension office, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry office or Regional Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture office. For more information on emerald ash borer go to http://bradford.extension.psu.edu/nresources/forestry.html and scroll down to the emerald ash borer photo and click there. The purple boxes are not control measures. Their purpose is not to kill the beetles. Their purpose is to monitor to see if the beetle is in the area.

To keep up with up to date happenings about emerald ash borer and other forest related topics, visit Hansen’s blog listed above.

Now, here are some tips on how you could help slow the spread of the borer …

• Do not move firewood. That is one of the primary ways the emerald ash borer moves into uninfested areas. Buy your firewood locally when you get to your campsite.
• Do not plant ash trees.
• Monitor ash trees on your property and be prepared to remove if them if they become unhealthy or infested. We recommend that you use a certified arborist in your area. For help in finding a certified arborist visit the website www.PATrees.org or call your local extension office.

Questions? Contact your local cooperative extension office. In Lackawanna County ask for the Garden Help line at 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu

Terry Schettini, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Lackawanna County