Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
06:07
Building Double-decker Traps for Early Detection of Emerald Ash Borer
Published on: October 4, 2017
Estimating potential emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) populations using ash inventory data
Deborah G McCullough1, Nathan W Siegert
1Department of Entomology, 243 Natural Science Bldg., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA. mccullo6@msu.edu
Journal of Economic Entomology
|November 2, 2007
Summary
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) infestations disproportionately originate from large ash trees. Management strategies should prioritize targeting these large trees to effectively reduce pest populations and slow spread.
Area of Science:
- Forestry
- Entomology
- Ecology
Background:
- The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive phloem-feeding beetle from Asia, has caused extensive ash tree mortality since its 2002 detection in Michigan and Ontario.
- Infestations have spread across multiple US states and Canadian provinces, necessitating effective management strategies for forestland managers and regulatory officials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop models for estimating ash tree surface area based on diameter at breast height (dbh).
- To quantify the beetle production rate per unit of surface area for Agrilus planipennis.
- To estimate the potential contribution of different-sized ash trees to overall Agrilus planipennis production.
Main Methods:
- Empirical data from 148 ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) were used to create models relating dbh to trunk and branch surface area.
- Data from 71 additional ash trees killed by Agrilus planipennis were analyzed to determine beetle emergence per square meter of surface area.
- Developed models were applied to ash inventory data from two sites to estimate potential Agrilus planipennis production based on tree size distribution.
Main Results:
- Large ash trees (dbh ≥ 26 cm), comprising only 6% of trees at study sites, were estimated to contribute 55-65% of total Agrilus planipennis production.
- Small ash trees (dbh ≤ 13 cm), representing 75-80% of trees, contributed only ≤12% to potential beetle production.
- A high average of 88.9 ± 4.6 Agrilus planipennis beetles emerged per m² of infested ash tree surface area.
Conclusions:
- Management efforts targeting large-diameter ash trees are crucial for significantly reducing Agrilus planipennis populations.
- Understanding the contribution of different tree sizes to beetle production can inform more efficient allocation of resources for pest control.
- These findings provide a basis for comparing management strategies to slow the spread of Agrilus planipennis.
