Lansing, MI October 20, 2005 - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Mitch Irwin today alerted citizens that the third and final phase of the 2005 Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) statewide detection tree program has begun.

Earlier this year, about 12,000 detection trees were created at varying densities in nearly every township in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas to serve as an early detection system for potential EAB infestations outside of the 20 quarantined counties in Southeast Michigan. The detection trees were established to attract and capture adult beetles present in a specific area. They do not lure the bug from long distances nor create new infestations. The project was based on recommendations from the EAB National Science Advisory Panel and implemented by MDA and the Department Natural Resources, in cooperation with local conservation district foresters and Michigan Technological University.

"This detection program is an important tool for alerting us to potential beetle infestations outside of the known EAB area," said Irwin. "Crews are returning to each of these areas, cutting down the trees and peeling the bark looking for signs of EAB. If infestations are found, we will implement an effective and timely response strategy."

Irwin added that it is possible that additional pockets of infestations may be found outside of the known infested areas in southeast Michigan and the 27 quarantined outliers across the state during the removal and examination of the detection trees. The detection tree removal process should be completed by early December.

"As we continue our EAB response efforts it’s imperative that Michigan residents, tourists and businesses adhere to the state’s quarantine," said Patricia Lockwood, EAB policy director for Governor Granholm. "It’s only with continued support and compliance that we will be able to halt the further spread and subsequent devastation to the state’s natural resources and economic growth."

Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic insect native to Asia that attacks ash trees and was previously unknown on the North American continent until its discovery in Michigan in 2002. The borer has already devastated approximately 15 million ash trees in southeast Michigan and continues to destroy trees in Michigan. Additionally, other localized areas in various counties and communities have been infested due mainly to the movement of firewood.

For more information about the EAB detection tree project or Michigan’s response efforts, visit the MDA Web site at www.michigan.gov/eab.