Lovely little creatures of nature, but looks are deceiving! The Emerald Ash Borer and Japanese Beetle are slowly destroying the plant life in my area - the Midwest. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have identified the top three pests threatening our landscape plants in the USA as of November, 2011.
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| Emerald Ash Borer |
The EAB larvae kill ash trees by feeding on the phloem and outer sapwood, producing galleries that eventually girdle the tree. Ash trees, found primarily in the forests of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada, are desirable urban trees because they grow well under difficult conditions. Its wood is also valued for flooring, furniture,
sports equipment (e.g. baseball bats, hockey sticks, oars), tool handles and supplies for dairies, poultry operations and beekeepers.
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| Japanese Beetle |
The Japanese Beetle is a highly destructive plant pest that can be very difficult and expensive to control. Feeding on grass roots, Japanese beetle grubs damage lawns, golf courses and pastures. Japanese beetle adults attack the foliage, flowers or fruits of more than 300 different ornamental and agricultural plants.
This foreign pest typically travels contained in potted plant soil and can be accidentally collected and baled in pine straw sold as mulch. Fire ants respond rapidly and aggressively to disturbances. A single fire ant can sting its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are especially susceptible. These ants will also girdle young trees and feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop plants, especially corn, soybeans, okra and citrus.
This video demonstrates how to identify the symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer infestation:
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Excerpts of this information were sourced from the United States Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
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