Nelson Company Blog
  • Home
  • Plastic Pallets
  • FDA
  • Wood Pallets
  • Crates & Containers
  • Sustainability
  • ISPM-15
  • Tech Center
  • News

The 5 W's of the Emerald Ash Borer

4/4/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Pests travel via wood products. 

Many of the pests that cause damage to trees, wood and other wood products catch rides to new habitats on wooden packaging used for shipping common consumer goods, auto parts and other products. One of these pests is the Emerald Ash Borer.

Here's what you need to know about this destructive wood pest.


  1. Who: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is a small emerald green beetle that feeds on ash trees. The borer is a type of beetle that is metallic green in color. It has a slender body and measures approximately 1/2" in length. Normally found just under the bark of ash trees, an average sized adult can fit on a penny.

  2. What: The emerald ash borer is an extremely destructive plant pest that damages trees. Since its arrival, the emerald ash borer has been responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees. One of the most frustrating things about the emerald ash borer is that it is very difficult to determine whether an ash tree is or is not infested due to the gradual decline.

  3. Where: The emerald ash borer's native habitat is China and eastern Asia. The ash borer is believed to have arrived in North America, specifically Michigan, by hiding in wood packing materials. The emerald ash borer has now been detected in 13 U.S. states including: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as well as some parts of Canada.

  4. When: While the exact arrival date of the emerald ash borer into the U.S. is unknown, it was first identified in 2002 in Michigan.  Within a couple of years, the emerald ash borer had spread to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Scientific communities believe that the beetle may have been living in the United States for up to 12 years before it was identified.

  5. Why: Since the greatest threat of spreading the emerald ash borer is by transporting freshly chopped wood (firewood and/or packaging), many states now have quarantine procedures. The quarantine is for wooden packaging and it requires ash lumber to be treated prior to crossing state lines. The U.S. Department of Agriculture took this action to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer to non-infested areas of the United States. 

Help stop the spread of the emerald ash borer in the industry and in your neighborhood.

It's important that you encourage people outside of our industry, like your friends, family, and neighbors, to help stop the emerald ash borer. Stopping the pest on all levels will benefit the wood packaging industry.
  • Don’t move firewood
    When we move firewood, we unknowingly contribute to the spread of the beetle. The larvae of the emerald ash borer hides under the bark of firewood. The best way to prevent the spread via firewood is to not move the wood and to buy local firewood.

  • Visually inspect your trees
    The best way to stop an infestation is early detection. The symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation are usually dead branches near the top of the tree, leafy sprouts growing from the lower trunk, or bark splits with s-shaped tunnels.

  • Spread the word
    Talk to your neighbors about the emerald ash borer.

  • Know your State and Federal regulations
    It is important to understand these regulations. If you have any questions, the wood packaging experts at Nelson can help you navigate the latest emerald ash borer quarantines set by the USDA.

  • Ask questions
    If you purchase any ash wood product or firewood, make sure you question its origin.

Do you have an experience with the Emerald Ash Borer or similar pest? Share your pest issues with us by commenting below.

Post by: Jonathan Haynes, Nelson Sales Representative
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Call Us: (410) 477-3000
    Nelson Company logo
    Headquartered in Baltimore since 1918 Nelson Company is a trusted source for pallets & packaging materials.
    NelsonCompany.com
    Nelson Technical Center
    Is your packaging system costing more than it should? Find out how you can start saving with an analysis from Nelson Technical Center.
    Nelson-Art Asset Retrieval Technology
    Our own web-based software for reverse distribution. Nelson-ART™ manages the entire life-cycle of your packaging assets.

     
    ​Categories

    All
    Crates And Containers
    FDA
    Industrial Packaging
    ISPM-15
    Pallet Mold
    Plastic Pallets
    Shipping And Freight
    Sustainable Packaging
    Technical Center
    Total Packaging Management
    Transport Packaging Industry News And Events
    Wood Pallets

      
    ​Our Authors

    David Caltrider
    Rich Reiher
    Mike Cunneen
    John Clarke
    Hartson Poland
    Jonathan Haynes
    Paul Pascarella
    Kaitlin Manning
    Chris Recker
    Aaron Pascarella
    ​
    Tyler Pease

     
    ​Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Tech Center

The Nelson Technical Center finds savings. Solutions for the design, supply and recovery of transport packaging.
(443) 649-1049

Wood Sales

Custom wooden pallets and crates are our specialty. Ask us about wood manufacturing, repair and recycling.
(410) 477-3000

Plastic Sales

Let our experts match you with the best plastic pallets or containers. Available in new and gently used condition.
(443) 649-5294
The Nelson Company Logo
The Nelson Company
4517 North Point Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21219
(410) 477-3000
© COPYRIGHT 2013-2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Plastic Pallets
  • FDA
  • Wood Pallets
  • Crates & Containers
  • Sustainability
  • ISPM-15
  • Tech Center
  • News