The emerald ash borer (Agrilus Planipennis) is an invasive insect species that has infected and killed many ash trees across eastern North America. The ash borer was first sighted in Michigan and Ontario in the summer of 2002, and has since spread widely east of the Mississippi. The species, the characteristics of the insect,the amount it has spread over the years, and the effect and damage that it has done in its new habitat have been followed since first discovered in North America. The emerald ash borer originated in eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and Korea. The species most likely came to North America by the use of ash wood for stabilizing heavy cargo loads and also by the packing and crating of products that were being transported overseas. On the insects native land it does not do any damage to the trees that are growing there. In North America the borer has killed tens of millions of trees and is still killing more. “The adult beetle is dark metallic green in color, 1/2 inch-long and 1/8 inch wide.”(Usborne). The beetle is about the size of a penny but its size doesn’t stop it from doing major damage to North America’s ash trees. …show more content…
The female lays her eggs on the tree, and when they hatch the larvae drills itself under the bark where the trees nutrients are stored. The larvae then tunnels its way around the inside of the tree to get its necessary nutrients. the article"State: Invasive beetle in 6 counties." explains it as “The eggs hatch and the larvae bore into the bark to the fluid- conducting vessels underneath. The larvae feed and develop, cutting off the flow of nutrients and, eventually killing the tree.” This is the problem that nothern America is facing, which is proving difficult to