The emerald ash borer (EAB) is indigenous to Asia and is known to occur in China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Russian Far East and Taiwan. Where it has been found in the United States, it has killed white ash (Fraxinus americana), green ash (F. pennsylvanica), and black ash (F. nigra), as well as several horticultural varieties of ash.  The insect kills ash trees by destroying the tree's water and nutrient conducting vessels. EAB is so aggressive that ash trees may die within two to three years after they become infested with the beetle.  Since its discovery near Detroit, Michigan in 2002, more than 15 million ash trees have been killed.  This beetle has also been detected in Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, Maryland, and Ontario, Canada. 

Ash trees are a major component of the landscape in Kentucky, so this pest is of particular concern both because of the prevalence of ash trees in urban and suburban areas and because lumber and wood products are among Kentucky’s top export products.  Kentucky could lose billions of dollars in forest products, and quarantines imposed by state and federal agencies could severely affect plant and wood products industries.

In October of 2006, 2-3 ash trees (> 6 inches in diameter) were prepared as trap trees by girdling them at chest height.  A band of plastic wrap was placed above and below the girdled area.  This plastic wrap was coated with tack-trap.  Wounded trees give off volatiles that are attractive to emerald ash borer which will then be trapped on the sticky bands.  The girdled trees were located in campground areas of state parks. Sticky bands were inspected every 1-2 weeks from May to September in 2007.  

From 2008-2013, our office participated in a national Emerald Ash Borer survey using a trap and lure system.  These traps were placed across the state as outlined by the USDA survey protocol. In 2014, we did not receive funding for this survey, but the US Forest Service set 20 traps.

There are no active surveys for Emerald Ash Borer now, but our colleagues at the Kentucky Division of Forestry investigate possible infestations in new counties and update the map as the beetle is found. The map can be found under Hot Topic: Emerald Ash Borer and at the end of this page.

Year	Survey Activities	Beetles Captured	Map of Trap Locations
2014	20 traps set in 9 counties* *US Forest Service Survey	131 beetles on 10 traps in 6 counties
2013	967 traps in 62 counties	47 beetles on 5 traps in 4 counties
2012	1,583 traps in 70 counties	24 beetles on 4 traps in 1 county
2011	6,825 traps in 93 counties	219 beetles on 51 traps in 11 counties
2010	6,000 traps in 71 counties	182 beetles on 25 traps in 9 counties
2009	5,665 traps in 84 counties	201 beetles on 77 traps in 10 counties
2008	3,065 traps in 54 counties	0
2007	12 girdled trap trees set in 6 counties	0