Questions and Answers

Q1. What is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)?
A1. EAB is a highly destructive insect pest of ash trees that was discovered in Canada for the first time in the summer of 2002. It has killed a large number of ash trees in southwestern Ontario and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas across Canada and the U.S. EAB does not poses a risk to human health.

Q2. What does EAB look like?
A2. The beetle is metallic green in colour and is 8.5-14.0 mm (about 2 inch) long and 3.1-3.4 mm (1/8 inch) wide. While the back of the insect is an iridescent, metallic green, the underside is a bright, emerald green. The body is narrow and elongated, and the head is flat. The eyes are kidney shaped and usually black. EAB larva is white and flat, has distinctive bell shaped segments and can grow up to 30 mm long.

Q3. What trees species are susceptible to attack by EAB?
A3. In North America, EAB has been found to attack and kill all North American species of ash. The mountain ash is not related to ash trees and is not attacked by EAB. Infested ash trees in North America generally die after two to three years, but heavily infested trees have been observed to die after one year of beetle attack.

Q4. How serious a threat is EAB?
A4. EAB poses a very serious threat to all species of ash trees throughout their range in the U.S. and Canada. During the relatively short time that EAB has been in North America, it has built up its populations to damaging levels and is believed to have killed in excess of 20 million trees in the U.S. and Canada. Billions more trees across North America are at risk of infestation and death.

Q5. What is the importance of ash trees?
A5. Ash trees are an important part of Canada's urban and rural landscape. They are commonly found on city streets, in woodlots, in windbreaks and in forests across southern Canada. In many areas of western Canada, ash trees are one of the few genera which are suitable for street-planting in urban areas.

Q6. Where did EAB come from? How did it get to Canada? How long has it been here?
A6. EAB is native to China and eastern Asia, and was found in North America in 2002. In May 2002, it was discovered in southeastern Michigan in the U.S. and in July 2002 it was found in Essex County in Ontario. As is the case with some other exotic pests that affect plants and trees, it is believed to have been accidentally introduced to North America on imported wood packaging or crating material.

Q7. How is EAB spread?
A7. The human movement of infested materials such as firewood, logs, branches, nursery stock, chips or other ash wood is the most common way EAB has been spread. Research on EAB indicates most adults move only 500 metres upon emergence.

Q8. Where has EAB been found in Canada?
A8. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducts ongoing surveys to determine the leading edge of EAB infestation in Canada and to detect any new populations that may have resulted through human activities, such as the movement of infested firewood, nursery stock or other forest products. In Canada, EAB has been confirmed in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, Essex, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex and Norfolk counties and the city of Toronto.

Q9. Who has the responsibility for regulatory control of EAB
A9. Under the authority of the Plant Protection Act, the CFIA is the agency responsible for preventing pests of quarantine significance from entering or spreading within Canada. When pests of quarantine significance become established a decision must be made, in consultation with other federal, provincial and municipal government departments and stakeholders, whether there is merit in trying to eradicate or contain the pest. Continued efforts and cooperation of all partners are required to protect Canada's valuable forest resources.

Q10. What is the proposed CFIA plan to control EAB?
A10. The CFIA believes there is continued merit in slowing the spread of EAB within Canada and protecting this country's vast ash resource. Consistent with the position of its federal, provincial and municipal partners, the current emphasis is on continued research, surveillance, effective communications and enforcement activities in regulated areas.

The CFIA continues to consult with the Ontario Critical Pest Council, the EAB Science Committee and its partners (including Natural Resources Canada -Canadian Forest Service, the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs), on science-based strategies for the detection and control of EAB. Biological control and natural tree resistance may play increasingly important roles in managing EAB populations.

Q11. Will the CFIA continue to remove trees in infested areas?
A11. No. The removal of infested host trees is no longer considered to be an effective tool in the management of EAB in areas likely to be generally infested. There will be no further tree removals within the regulated areas except for research purposes.

Q12. What are the EAB regulated areas and how are they established?
A12. Regulated areas are created to slow or prevent the spread of pests (including diseases) that could adversely affect humans, animal or plant life. Generally, restrictions or prohibitions are placed on areas where the pest is present or suspected to occur and where there is merit in trying to slow or prevent the spread of the pest. One way to establish a regulated area is through a Ministerial Order.
Regulated areas allow the CFIA to maintain and enforce restrictive measures for the movement of potentially infested wood items from areas where EAB has been found. This is necessary to slow the spread of EAB, to protect the health of Canada's trees and forests and to prevent economic losses to the nursery, lumber and tourism industries and municipalities.

Additionally, the Ministerial Orders that define the regulated areas officially identify the regions of Canada to be infested with EAB. This allows areas in Canada that are not infested with EAB to continue to export ash nursery stock and forest products to our trading partners.

Another way the CFIA establishes a regulated area is by issuing a notice of Prohibition of Movement or Notice of Quarantine to individual property owners to restrict or prohibit the movement of high-risk materials from properties that are confirmed or suspected to be infested with EAB.

Q13. Where are the regulated areas in Canada?
A13. The areas that are designated as regulated areas for the EAB under Ministerial Orders:
Essex County
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent
Lambton County
Elgin County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
The City of Toronto
Although the pest has been identified in several areas, regulated materials cannot be moved outside of a regulated area without prior written permission from the CFIA.

Additional quarantine measures are also specified for some properties in the city of Toronto, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex and Norfolk counties. Regulated materials cannot be removed from these properties without the permission of the CFIA.

Q14. What items are restricted within these regulated areas?
A14. Regulated articles in these areas include: nursery stock, trees, logs, wood, rough lumber including pallets and other wood packaging materials, bark, wood chips or bark chips from ash trees and firewood of all tree species. This order extends to vehicles that were used to carry any of these items. Movement of these materials from regulated areas is permitted only if the materials have been treated to kill or remove all life stages of EAB and if written permission (Movement Certificate) has been obtained from a CFIA inspector.

Q15. What does this mean to those in the regulated areas?
A15. This means those in the regulated areas may not move ash trees, nursery stock, logs, lumber, wood packaging or dunnage, wood or bark, wood chips or bark chips or as well as firewood of all tree species out of the regulated areas without written permission from the CFIA.

Q16. How is the CFIA increasing public awareness of the requirements of the Ministerial Orders?
A16. The Agency has been increasing public awareness of EAB and the requirements of the Ministerial Orders by:
publicizing the regulations on the movement of firewood and ash tree materials in newspapers and on the radio;
actively seeking opportunities to present information or speak on EAB;
holding public meetings and keeping the public, stakeholders and affected industries up to date through CFIA web site information;
distributing posters and other printed materials to the public, impacted areas and to affected industries; and
taking effective enforcement actions when warranted.

Continued cooperation from the public is essential if we are to slow the spread of this pest.

Q17. What do I do if I suspect my ash tree is infested?
A17. If you are not in one of the areas regulated for EAB and suspect signs of infestation on your ash trees, contact the CFIA at 1-866-463-6017.

If you are in an EAB-regulated area and have recently trimmed or cut down your ash tree, please call the CFIA for directions on disposal.

Q18. What can I do to help?
A18. Do not move the regulated materials.
Buy and burn firewood locally.
Report signs of EAB infestation to the CFIA.
Toll free: 1-866-463-6017, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Help Protect Canada's Trees and Forests.

For more information visit the CFIA web site: www.inspection.gc.ca