The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive species and infestations are very destructive to ash trees in the range where it's introduced.

BACKGROUND FACTS

• First discovered in America in 2002 in Michigan.
• Accidentally brought to America by ash wood which was used in crates when shipping
• Its first confirmed North American detection was in June 2002.
• Suspected that it was introduced by overseas shipping materials.
• The species has continued to spread across the continent.

MORE FACTS

• A French priest found the beetle in Beijing and sent it back to France.
• The emerald ash borer life cycle can occur over one or two years.
• Eggs are deposited between bark crevices, flakes, or cracks and hatch about two weeks later.
• Ash trees are expected to die in an area within 10 years without control measures.
• Green and Black ash trees are preferred by the Emerald Ash Borer or EAB.

It has killed at least tens of millions of ash trees.
It threatens to kill most of the 8.7 billion ash trees throughout North America.