This is unlikely. Woodpeckers feed on live, mature EAB larvae, mostly in late fall, winter and early spring. Many of these mature larvae overwinter in the nonliving, outer bark where they will not be exposed to systemic insecticides. Imidacloprid, dinotefuran, and emamectin benzoate are much more toxic to insects than to birds that have been tested, and insecticide concentrations that have been measured in treated trees are far below the levels known to be toxic to birds. An EAB larva that has been killed by insecticide will desiccate quickly and decompose. There is little evidence that woodpeckers will feed on larval cadavers. Furthermore, living larvae that are suitable prey for woodpeckers will not have been exposed to a lethal dose of insecticide, and these products do not bio-accumulate in animals in the way that fat-soluble insecticides such as DDT do. In Michigan and Ohio, where EAB has been established for several years, many ash trees have been treated with systemic insecticides. There have been no reported cases of woodpecker poisoning caused by insecticides applied for control of EAB.
The scourge of forests, the emerald ash borer, or EAB, is usually described with words like “destructive” and “pest.” A recent study based on data collected by citizen scientists suggests that one more adjective might apply, at least from a bird’s perspective: “delicious.”
In a study published this week in the journal Biological Invasions, U.S. Forest Service entomologist Andrew Liebhold and Cornell University scientist Walter Koenig and others document how an EAB invasion fueled a population boom for four species of birds in the Detroit area.
It appears more than just a few ash trees at the Warren County boat launch in Chester are infected with the emerald ash borer, surveyors are finding.
The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) and the state Department of Environmental Conservation began checking ash trees within a five-mile radius of the boat launch after the invasive insect was found earlier this month. It was the first known infestation in the Adirondack Park.
I think possesses of an invasive species should be a felony. You should be able to dial 911 and the police should come with with the lights and sirens on and they remove the invasive species similar to narcotics.
Sounds silly? A fire might cost $250,000 in damages, a murder might cost $1 million in loss earnings or less for low income persons. A single invasive species not removed immediately could cost farmers, forest owners, and land owners billions. Invasive species should get the same attention from law enforcement and first responders as fire and crime.
State officials confirmed Tuesday night that emerald ash borer has infested some trees in the Town of Chester.
The invasive bug has been documented all around the outskirts of the Adirondack Park, but this is the first time the state Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed an infestation within the park.
Emerald ash borers are metallic, green-winged beetles whose larvae feed on an inner layer of an ash tree. Once they’re grown, the adults exit the tree, leaving behind a D-shaped hole. Over time, the beetle’s lifecycle ends up killing the tree. They’re not great at flying, either, and typically get spread through people transporting wood shipping pallets or firewood.
The history books show the Dutch Elm disease quarantine was more successful than SLAM but I think that has more to the vector of disease - fungus versus insects. Dutch Elm disease did spread quicker during World War II when restrictions were lifted but it wasnt until the 1980s until it really got to devestating Upstate and further decades before got a serious hold in Ontario - really not until the beginning of the 21st century before Toronto lost its beautiful Elm lined streets.
The point is that humans might be an important vector but that doesn't mean that humans can necessarily break the chain. We are more helpless as a society to stop bad things from happening then the politicians want us to believe.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified some of the plant species in bags of unsolicited seeds arriving in mailboxes across the United States. Officials have warned the shipments of mystery seeds, which appear to have originated in China, could be invasive plant species.
So far, however, the species appear to be innocuous. At least 14 of the seed species had been identified as of July 29, according to Deputy Administrator Osama El-Lissy of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. They includes mustard, cabbage and morning glory as well as herbs like mint, sage, rosemary and lavender. He said hibiscus and roses were also found.