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Emerald Ash Borer

Current Status

On July 8, 2008 Fairfax County staff identified sites in Herndon and Springfield infested with emerald ash borer. Currently Fairfax County Urban Foresters are trying to find the extent of the infestation and are preparing a public outreach campaign.

A federal order quarantines, effective immediately, Fairfax County for emerald ash borer. All interstate movement of infested ash wood and wood products from Fairfax County is regulated, including firewood of all hardwoods, nursery stock, green lumber, waste, compost, and chips from ash trees. Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has also put in place a similar quarantine for the counties of Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun, and Prince William and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park.

Please help by contacting the Forest Pest Branch if you notice any signs or symptoms of emerald ash borer on your property. You may visit the Dendrology at Virginia Tech Web site for more information about identifying ash trees. 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.

Remember: Don't move firewood! Buy your firewood once you reach your destination.

Emerald Ash Borer Press Release

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.

Also, view the Forest Pest Branch's emerald ash borer brochure (PDF)

The emerald ash borer is an insect that was first discovered killing ash trees in Michigan in the late 1990s. Accidentally introduced into North America from Asia, the emerald ash borer has killed millions of ash trees throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia 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.

adult emerald esh borer

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

emerald ash borer larvae

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

emerald esh borer larva

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

Bark splitting

Bark splitting caused by emerald ash borer
Photo By: Michigan Department of Agriculture

Canopy dieback

Canopy dieback caused by emerald ash borer infestation
Photo By: Steven Katovich

Epicormic shoots

Epicormic shoots caused by emerald ash borer infestation
Photo By: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Exit holes

"D" shaped exit holes
Photo By: Joseph O'Brien

Larval galleries

Larval galleries
Photo By: David Cappaert, Michigan State University

Emerald Ash Borer in Fairfax County

In the summer of 2003, a Michigan nursery owner violated federal quarantine laws by shipping infested ash trees to a nursery in Prince George’s County, Md., which in turn sold 16 of the trees to Fairfax County Public Schools. These trees were planted at the Colvin Run Elementary School near Wolf Trap National Park.

Eradication Plan

In October of 2003, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Fairfax County Forest Pest Branch became aware of the infestation and immediately removed the trees. The trees had borer exit holes and feeding galleries, which indicates an active infestation.

Following U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, the Fairfax County Forest Pest Branch, in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, developed an eradication plan. In the spring of 2004, 238 ash trees within a one-half mile area of the suspected infestation site were removed and incinerated.

The Forest Pest Branch continues to monitor for this insect in the eradication zone and in other areas within Fairfax County.

County forester inspection sentinel ash trees for emerald ash borer
County forester inspecting sentinel ash trees for emerald ash borer.