Aliens & Pests

Cutting down all the ash trees near infested trees is the only effective measure to try to control "EAB" ("AP"), but it is expensive. The USDA has refused to release funds designated for "EAB" control, and Michigan now lacks adequate money to eradicate trees. Instead, Michigan officials are turning to the trap tree method. Since Agrilus beetles are preferentially attracted to stressed trees, girdling a tree makes it into a trap tree, one that should be attractive to female beetles looking for a place to lay eggs. The trap tree method is useful for measuring insect populations, but it is not an effective method to get rid of beetles.

Michigan requested $37.8 million of federal funds for beetle control, but received only $11 million. The USDA has given no reason for the shortfall.  The USDA has so far given no reasons for the lack of funds, which were appropriated by Congress.

"EAB" eradication has also been underfunded in Ohio, where $11.6 million was requested but only $8 allocated. Michigan and Ohio congressional representatives are trying to get USDA to free up more funds.

Even if USDA comes up with the full funding, eradication efforts are likely to fail. There are too many opportunities for people to break the quarantine on infested counties, by carrying logs and firewood away. No amount of eradication will stop the beetles until people cooperate fully in the quarantine.