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Current Status of Emerald Ash Borer in Fairfax County

Adult emerald ash borer
Photo by: David Cappaert,
Michigan State University

Emerald ash borer larvae
Photo by: Brian Sullivan,
USDA APHIS PPQ

Emerald ash borer larva
Photo by: David Cappaert,
Michigan State University

Quarantine Information

The following counties and cities are quarantined for emerald ash borer: Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park. The following items may not be moved from quarantined areas without a compliance agreement:

all hardwood firewood
ash nursery stock
ash green lumber
any other ash material, living, dead, cut or fallen, including logs, stumps, branches, roots, as well as composted and uncomposted chips from any species of ash

These regulated items may only be moved from within the quarantined areas if a compliance agreement is entered into with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and/or the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal, Plant, Health Inspection Service. A compliance agreement with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is required for any movement of regulated items from quarantined areas to other areas within the state. A similar agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal, Plant, Health Inspection Service is required for any movement of regulated items from quarantined areas across state lines. Please visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Animal, Plant, Health Inspection Service or call the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 804-786-3515 for more information about compliance agreements. View emerald ash borer quarantine frequently asked questions.

Violating the state quarantine is a class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $2,500 and a year in jail. Violating the federal quarantine could result in a fine up to $250,000. Call 804-786-3515 to report quarantine violations.

Remember: Do your part to prevent the spread of this destructive pest. Don't move firewood! Leave your firewood at home. Buy your firewood once you reach your destination.

2009 Emerald Ash Borer Survey

In the spring of 2009, Fairfax County will work cooperatively with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement a large-scale emerald ash borer survey. This survey involves the placement of about 2000 emerald ash borer traps throughout Fairfax County. Federal, state and county staff will periodically check the traps throughout the summer to idenify any additional areas of infestation. Learn more about the emerald ash borer traps.

Background

In the summer of 2008, Fairfax County staff identified several sites infested with emerald ash borer. Immediately after the infestations were discovered, a federal order quarantined Fairfax County for emerald ash borer. Soon after, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services put in place a similar quarantine for Fairfax County and surrounding areas.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Emerald Ash Borer Science Advisory Council has recommended that no eradication action be taken in Fairfax County. This decision was made due to the extent of the infestations and due to the fact that similar eradication attempts in other U.S. states have failed. The County will only remove infested ash trees on County property.

Since the emerald ash borer infests all species of ash and is almost always fatal without costly annual or biannual treatment, the Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division is discouraging the planting of ash trees in the landscape. Builders will not receive tree canopy credits for planting ash on development sites within the county and residents are encouraged to plant a variety of other native species instead of ash.

History

The emerald ash borer is an insect that was first discovered killing ash trees in Michigan in 2002. Accidentally introduced into North America from Asia, the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Canada. This pest has caused billions of dollars of damage to North America's forest industry and has killed many popular landscaping trees. The emerald ash borer does not generally spread great distances on its own. It is mainly spread when various ash articles (firewood, wood chips, nursery stock, etc.) are transported from infested areas to uninfested areas.

The adult beetles will feed on ash leaves, but the damage is minimal. The larvae (immature stage) causes the most destruction by feeding on the inner bark of ash trees. This disrupts the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients which in turn kills the tree in a matter of years.

There are many species of ash, but emerald ash borer will attack them all and is almost always fatal. Green and White ash are commonly found in this area. Learn to identify ash trees. The images below illustrate the most common signs and symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation.

For more information, view the national emerald ash borer Web site and the pest alert fact sheet or contact the Forest Pest Branch at 703-324-5304, TTY 711, or via e-mail.