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The European Commission submitted to the EFSA Panel on Plant Health a dossier by USDA proposing to use sulfuryl fluoride on ash log shipments to treat Agrilus planipennis for phytosanitary certification. After collecting additional evidence from USDA APHIS, external experts and literature, the Panel performed a quantitative assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis, at the point of entry in the EU, of two different commodities fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride: (a) ash logs with bark; and (b) debarked ash logs. An expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis is lower for ash logs with bark compared with debarked ash logs. With 95% certainty, the Panel concludes that between 9,740 and 10,000 containers of ash logs with bark per 10,000 and between 9,989 and 10,000 containers of debarked ash logs per 10,000 will be free from A. planipennis, when fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride at the specific treatment regime proposed by the USDA APHIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis, which is native to East Asia, is a highly destructive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus sp.) in European Russia and North America. This quarantine species is currently spreading in the European part of Russia and in the east of Ukraine. The purpose of this study is to determine the distribution of the species in the southeast of the main part of the invasive range. The material was collected in Tambov, Voronezh, and Volgograd oblasts of the European part of Russia in 2021. The pest has spread to the central part of Tambov oblast, has almost completely populated Voronezh oblast, and has penetrated into the northwestern part of Volgograd oblast. Findings of Agrilus planipennis have shown that the invader continues to spread to the southeast of the European part of Russia. The border of the invasive range of Agrilus planipennis is already located in the immediate vicinity of the regions of the European part of Russia where the common ash is one of the main forest resources. Further expansion of the pest will cause significant ecological and economic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The European Commission submitted to the EFSA Panel on Plant Health a dossier by USDA proposing to use sulfuryl fluoride on ash log shipments to treat Agrilus planipennis for phytosanitary certification. After collecting additional evidence from USDA APHIS, external experts and literature, the Panel performed a quantitative assessment on the likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis, at the point of entry in the EU, of two different commodities fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride: (a) ash logs with bark; and (b) debarked ash logs. An expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom taking into consideration the measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The likelihood of pest freedom from A. planipennis is lower for ash logs with bark compared with debarked ash logs. With 95% certainty, the Panel concludes that between 9,740 and 10,000 containers of ash logs with bark per 10,000 and between 9,989 and 10,000 containers of debarked ash logs per 10,000 will be free from A. planipennis, when fumigated with sulfuryl fluoride at the specific treatment regime proposed by the USDA APHIS.

Beijing's One Million Mu Plain Afforestation Project involves planting large areas with the exotic North American tree species Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh (ash). As an exotic tree species, ash is very vulnerable to infestations by the emerald ash borer (EAB), a native Chinese wood borer pest. In the early stage of an EAB infestation, attacked trees show no obvious sign. Once the stand has reached the late damage stage, death occurs rapidly. Therefore, there is a need for efficient early detection methods of EAB stress over large areas. The combination of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based hyperspectral imaging (HI) with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a promising practical approach for monitoring insect disturbance. In this study, we identified the most useful narrow-band spectral HI data and 3D LiDAR data for the early detection of EAB stress in ash. UAV-HI data of different infested stages (healthy, light, moderate and severe) of EAB in the 400–1000 nm range were collected from ash canopies and were processed by Partial Least Squares–Variable Importance in Projection (PLS-VIP) to identify the maximally sensitive bands. Band R678 nm had the highest PLS-VIP scores and the most robust classification ability. We combined this band with band R776 nm to develop an innovative normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI(776,678)) to estimate EAB stress. LiDAR data were used to segment individual trees and supplement the HI data. The new NDVI(776,678) identified different stages of EAB stress, with a producer's accuracy of 90% for healthy trees, 76.25% for light infestation, 58.33% for moderate infestation, and 100% for severe infestation, with an overall accuracy of 82.90% when combined with UAV-HI and LiDAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is the most serious invasive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp., Oleaceae) in the world. It has not yet reached the range of olive tree plantations, however it has been shown to complete its life cycle in this host tree. This pest native to East Asia was first found in Europe in Moscow in 2003 and has been spreading ever since. The aims of this study were to determine if the southern border of the range has already reached the Caucasus and to assess the potential range in this region based on host availability and heat availability. In 2021, we surveyed ash trees south to the known range in Russia. We did not find the pest in six cities in the North Caucasus region but found it in the city of Azov close to the Caucasus. Analysis of information about 550 localities of ash trees in the Caucasus showed that Fraxinus spp. is common throughout the region. The calculation of annual growing degree days base 10 °C indicated that the places where Fraxinus spp. grow above 1500 m are too cold for A. planipennis and therefore could potentially become a refuge for ash trees. The spread of A. planipennis to the Caucasus is of concern. First, the forest ecosystems of this region are endangered, since European ash Fraxinus excelsior is much more common there than in the currently infested regions in Russia. Second, the Russian Caucasus can become the gateway to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other countries of the Middle East and Southern Europe. We propose using Fraxinus angustifolia, F. ornus and Olea europaea growing in the Caucasus and adjacent regions as sentinel trees for the monitoring and pest risk assessment of these tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to many advantages, polymer composite insulators have been extensively used for high-voltage (HV) transmission lines and substation insulations. The in-service operation, various environmental and electrical stresses degrade their mechanical and thermal characteristics. In this study, nine thousand-hour (9000 h) multi-stress (HV, heat, acid rain, salt fog, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and humidity) accelerated lab-weathering evaluation of alumina-trihydrate (ATH) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) filled silicone rubber (SiR) composites were utilized. Moreover, to quantify the influence of multiple stresses over 9000 h lab-aging, the tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and thermal properties were evaluated and compared with the characterization results of neat (un-aged) composites. Winter and summer-aging cycles were designed in accordance with the actual service environment of Islamabad (Pakistan). Mechanical results of SiR blends showed a decrease in the tensile strength and the elongation at break (EAB), whereas the hardness increased over 9000 h lab-aging. The maximum deviation of ∼57.1% in tensile strength was found for hybrid samples (micro-ATH+ nano-Silica blend: SMNC), whereas the minimum change of ∼25.73% was exhibited by micro-silica-filled SiR specimen SMC3. Compared to neat blends, the maximum variation in EAB was ∼61% for a neat sample (SiR), whereas minimum change was noticed for SMC2 (of ∼31%) over 9000 h lab-aging. Additionally, after 9000 h lab-aging, the maximum (of ∼79.6%) and minimum (of ∼24.4%) variation in hardness was found for hybrid and SiR samples, respectively. Moreover, thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis showed that relative to neat samples, the thermal stability of aged specimens was decreased over weathering. Among aged specimens, only ATH filled samples (SMC1, SMC2) exhibited superior performance for a given temperature range (from 0°C to 900°C) by leaving a higher residual weight of ∼68.6% for SMC2. Hence to simulate and quantify the influence of environmental stresses over insulant performance, accelerated lab weathering can be adopted as an efficient tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beijing’s One Million Mu Plain Afforestation Project involves planting large areas with the exotic North American tree species Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh (ash). As an exotic tree species, ash is very vulnerable to infestations by the emerald ash borer (EAB), a native Chinese wood borer pest. In the early stage of an EAB infestation, attacked trees show no obvious sign. Once the stand has reached the late damage stage, death occurs rapidly. Therefore, there is a need for efficient early detection methods of EAB stress over large areas. The combination of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based hyperspectral imaging (HI) with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a promising practical approach for monitoring insect disturbance. In this study, we identified the most useful narrow-band spectral HI data and 3D LiDAR data for the early detection of EAB stress in ash. UAV-HI data of different infested stages (healthy, light, moderate and severe) of EAB in the 400–1000 nm range were collected from ash canopies and were processed by Partial Least Squares–Variable Importance in Projection (PLS-VIP) to identify the maximally sensitive bands. Band R678 nm had the highest PLS-VIP scores and the most robust classification ability. We combined this band with band R776 nm to develop an innovative normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI(776,678)) to estimate EAB stress. LiDAR data were used to segment individual trees and supplement the HI data. The new NDVI(776,678) identified different stages of EAB stress, with a producer’s accuracy of 90% for healthy trees, 76.25% for light infestation, 58.33% for moderate infestation, and 100% for severe infestation, with an overall accuracy of 82.90% when combined with UAV-HI and LiDAR.

Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is the most serious invasive pest of ash trees (Fraxinus spp., Oleaceae) in the world. It has not yet reached the range of olive tree plantations, however it has been shown to complete its life cycle in this host tree. This pest native to East Asia was first found in Europe in Moscow in 2003 and has been spreading ever since. The aims of this study were to determine if the southern border of the range has already reached the Caucasus and to assess the potential range in this region based on host availability and heat availability. In 2021, we surveyed ash trees south to the known range in Russia. We did not find the pest in six cities in the North Caucasus region but found it in the city of Azov close to the Caucasus. Analysis of information about 550 localities of ash trees in the Caucasus showed that Fraxinus spp. is common throughout the region. The calculation of annual growing degree days base 10 °C indicated that the places where Fraxinus spp. grow above 1500 m are too cold for A. planipennis and therefore could potentially become a refuge for ash trees. The spread of A. planipennis to the Caucasus is of concern. First, the forest ecosystems of this region are endangered, since European ash Fraxinus excelsior is much more common there than in the currently infested regions in Russia. Second, the Russian Caucasus can become the gateway to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and other countries of the Middle East and Southern Europe. We propose using Fraxinus angustifolia, F. ornus and Olea europaea growing in the Caucasus and adjacent regions as sentinel trees for the monitoring and pest risk assessment of these tree species.

Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is one of 20 priority quarantine pests of the European Union. It is native to Asia and is established in the USA, Canada, European Russia, and Ukraine. We made the first prognosis of the potential range of A. planipennis in Europe based on heat availability. Mean annual growing degree days base 10 °C (AGDD10) was calculated for each grid square (0.25° × 0.25° latitude x longitude degrees) on the Earth’s surface. Minimal AGDD10 recorded in the grid squares currently occupied by A. planipennis was 714° in Asia, 705° in North America, and 711° in European Russia. Agrilus planipennis has never been recorded in localities with AGDD10 below 700°. If the phenotypic plasticity would not allow this species to overcome this threshold, cold regions of Europe would probably not be invaded by A. planipennis. Thus, Fraxinus excelsior could potentially escape from A. planipennis in some regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, and Great Britain.

Loss of tree cover caused by forest-attacking invasive species negatively affects environmental quality by impacting air quality, temperature, and recreational opportunities. Prior work has shown causal associations between these environmental quality metrics and labor market outcomes, however, never before due to invasive species spread. To address this gap, this paper explores the labor market effects of invasive species-induced deforestation using quasi-random detections of the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) as a natural experiment. Using multiple sources of labor market data, it is shown that wage earnings are lower by an average of 1% in the years after EAB detection. Strongest impacts are observed in the manufacturing (4.3% decline) and accommodation and food service (4.2% decline) industries. Additional impacts are observed on the number of Social Security claimants and the number of people employed at firms in EAB counties. Lost labor market earnings due to EAB total $11.8 billion, or, $1.2 billion/year over the 10-year period investigated. Many robustness and falsification tests are performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), an alien pest native to Asia, has spread to Ukraine and 16 regions of European Russia. It severely damages Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. introduced from North America, but serious damage to European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) has not been detected in forests. Context: The first detection of A. planipennis in European Russia was in Moscow in 2003, when it began to spread. Aims: To determine the range of A. planipennis as of 2020. Methods: In 2017–2020, our Russian-Ukrainian research team examined > 7000 F. pennsylvanica trees and > 2500 F. excelsior trees in 84 localities of European Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Results: The current range exceeds the area of Spain and includes the Luhansk region of Ukraine and 16 regions of ER: Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Orel, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tula, Tver, Vladimir, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl. Agrilus planipennis was not detected in Belarus. The overwhelming majority of the infestations were found on F. pennsylvanica. All known cases of infestation of the native species (F. excelsior) are from artificial plantings. Conclusion: Agrilus planipennis will appear in other European countries soon and damage F. pennsylvanica. Further surveys are necessary to determine whether A. planipennis infests F. excelsior in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The anode was prepared using vapor deposition and vacuum ion plating techniques. • Silver nanoparticles were introduced to facilitate the electron transfer. • Different anode substratum shaped distinguishable anode microflora structures. Conventionally, there are two basic configurations for microbial fuel cell (MFC), one with anode and cathode chambers, as known as dual-chamber MFC, one with only anode chamber and a air–cathode, called single-chamber MFC. However, electrode materials' complex configuration and high resistance limit their practical applications in power generation and wastewater purification. To this end, we constructed three MFCs using carbon felt, Ni/Ti, and Ag-Ni/Ti as anodes based on our previously constructed integrated chamber-free MFC (iMFC). After 21 days of operation, the Ag-Ni/Ti-MFC performed best in bioelectricity output and removal of target pollutants. The bioelectricity output parameters were an open-circuit voltage of 0.773 V, a maximum current density of 552.1429 mA/m2, and a power density of 426.8064 mW/m2. Furthermore, the MFC achieved removals of 67.90% for the chemical oxygen demand (COD), 55.20% for total nitrogen (TN), and 61.83% for ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N). Introducing silver nanoparticles to the transmembrane and outer membrane boosted the charge extraction efficiency in the MFCs. Moreover, 16S rDNA analysis indicated that typical electricity-producing bacteria, including Comamonas , Paraclostridium , and Asaccharospora, had a higher relative abundance in the Ag-Ni/Ti-MFC anode than in other anodes. Overall, the surface structure of different anode materials plays a critical role in bioelectricity generation and wastewater purification using iMFC by affecting the mass transfer of substrates and metabolites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As serious water ecological pollution caused by toxicant leakage occurs frequently, early-warning for toxicity presented in water environment attracts increasing attentions as it saves time to retain water safety and human health. Electrochemically active biofilm (EAB) sensor is a promising device for in situ real-time water toxicity early-warning. To improve the sensitivity of EAB sensor particularly for low-concentration toxicity warning, this study employed titanium mesh (TiM) as the anode to construct an EAB sensor. Compared to traditional EAB sensor with carbon felt (CF) anode, the sensitivity of the TiM sensor was increased up to 37.4 times. The effects of mesh size (TiM50, TiM100, TiM150) and operation mode (flow-by and flow-through) on the sensitivity of TiM sensors were further investigated. Results showed the sensor with TiM100 anode had the highest inhibition rate (IR) in flow-by mode, attributed to low charge transfer resistance (R ct) and fast mass transfer. Flow-through operation could further enhance TiM100 sensor's sensitivity from flow-by operation and succeeded to signal as low as 0.0025% formaldehyde, the lowest so far tested in EAB sensor with sensing anode. Multiple toxicity shocks on flow-through TiM100 sensor revealed its good recoverability towards all tested formaldehyde concentration from 0.01% to 0.0025%, during which electrochemical activity degradation and biomass accumulation partially impaired the repeatability. This work highlights the great improvement of EAB sensors by utilizing titanium mesh as EAB carrier and provides a reference for the practical application of metallic materials for EAB sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, native to East Asia, is an invasive pest of ash in North America and European Russia. This quarantine species is a threat to ash trees all over Europe. Survey in ten provinces of European Russia in 2019–2020 showed that EAB had spread faster and farther than was previously thought. The new infested sites were first detected in St. Petersburg (110–120 km from the EU border: Estonia, Finland) and Astrakhan Province (50 km from the Kazakhstan border). The current range of EAB in Europe includes Luhansk Province of Ukraine and 18 provinces of Russia: Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Orel, Ryazan, Smolensk, St. Petersburg, Tambov, Tula, Tver, Vladimir, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl. Within these, only seven quarantine phytosanitary zones in five provinces are declared by the National Plant Protection Organization of Russia. EAB was not found in the regions along the Middle Volga: Mari El, Chuvash and Tatarstan republics, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara and Saratov provinces. The infested sites in St. Petersburg and in the Lower Volga basin are range enclaves separated from the core invasion range by 470 and 370 km, correspondingly. It is possible that new enclaves can appear in the cities of Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan far from the current known range. All previously known infestations in European Russia were in green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), which was introduced from North America, and individual trees of European ash (F. excelsior). A first confirmed case of mass decline of several thousand of EAB-infested European ash trees in Moscow province is provided. Therefore, there is no more doubt that under certain conditions EAB can seriously damage native ash trees in European forests.

Sheets of flame‐retardant cross‐linked polyethylene (FR‐XLPE) were aged thermally at 80, 100, 135, and 155 °C for various periods from 100 to 800 h. They were also aged concurrently by heat and gamma rays at the same temperatures for the same periods at a dose rate of 100 Gy/h. For these sheets, we measured indenter modulus, elongation at break, complex permittivity, and absorption spectra at midinfrared and THz frequencies. As a result, it has become clear that the aging at 135 °C makes FR‐XLPE hard regardless of the presence of concurrent irradiation of gamma rays. This makes the transport of charge carriers difficult. Therefore, both the real and the imaginary parts of complex permittivity decrease, which is significant if the measurement frequency is low. However, this tendency becomes opposite as the samples were aged at 155 °C by heat or concurrently by heat and radiation. Using indenter modulus as an indicator, it has become clear that the aging progress is composed of two different stages, which could be a good clue to the explanation of these opposite changes in complex permittivity. On the other hand, the samples aged at 155 °C concurrently by heat and radiation show larger values in the indenter modulus and in two parts of complex permittivity than the samples aged at the same temperature only by heat. This is probably due to the oxidative degradation induced by the cooperative reaction of heat and radiation. © 2019 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We introduce a flood disturbance module to the LANDIS-II forest succession modelling framework to enable investigations into how inundation interacts with other disturbances and successional processes to alter floodplain forest cover and community dynamics. • In a case study in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, USA, we illustrate how predictions of total forest cover and the abundance of different forest community types were responsive to patterns of inundation and outbreaks of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). • Our results suggest that a deeper understanding of floodplain forest dynamics can be gained through integrative models that combine forest successional processes and other disturbances, with the impacts of inundation. • This modelling framework should allow for future studies that examine how alternative hydrologic scenarios and other disturbances interact to influence floodplain forests in space and time. Simulation models are often used to identify hydrologic regimes suitable for different riparian or floodplain tree species. However, most existing models pay little attention to forest successional processes or other disturbances that may interact with the hydrologic regime of river systems to alter forest dynamics in space and time. In this study, we introduce a flood disturbance module to the LANDIS-II forest succession modelling framework to enable investigations into how inundation interacts with other disturbances and successional processes to alter floodplain forest cover and community dynamics. We illustrate the functionality of the model using a case study with multiple scenarios in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, USA. We found that model predictions of total forest cover and the abundance of specific forest community types were generally related to uncertainty in the susceptibility of different species and age classes to inundation. By simulation year 100, increases or decreases in total forest cover and forest type distributions were roughly proportional to the initial differences in the susceptibility of species and age classes to inundation. The largest decrease in total forest cover was associated with a scenario that included disturbance by the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and when using susceptibility parameters corresponding to the weakest flood tolerance. In contrast, changes in the composition of aboveground biomass were not sensitive to differences in susceptibility, and generally showed shifts toward later successional species with higher shade tolerance and longer lifespans for all scenarios. Our findings suggest that flood inundation interacts with other disturbances (e.g., insect outbreaks) and forest successional processes to alter forest abundance, distribution, and species composition in this system. Our modelling framework should allow for future studies that examine such interactions in other systems, and in the context of alternative hydrologic scenarios and other disturbance regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA interference (RNAi) is a naturally occurring process inhibiting gene expression, and recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism have allowed its development as a tool against insect pests. A major challenge for deployment in the field is the development of convenient and efficient methods for production of double stranded RNA (dsRNA). We assessed the potential for deploying bacterially produced dsRNA as a bio-pesticide against an invasive forest pest, the emerald ash borer (EAB). EAB feeds on the cambial tissue of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.), causing rapid death. EAB has killed millions of trees in North America since its discovery in 2002, prompting the need for innovative management strategies. In our study, bacterial expression and synthesis of dsRNA were performed with E. coli strain HT115 using the L4440 expression vector. EAB-specific dsRNAs (shi and hsp) over-expressed in E. coli were toxic to neonate EAB after oral administration, successfully triggering gene silencing and subsequent mortality; however, a non-specific dsRNA control was not included. Our results suggest that ingestion of transformed E. coli expressing dsRNAs can induce an RNAi response in EAB. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an effective RNAi response induced by feeding dsRNA-expressing bacteria in a forest pest.

The emerald ash borer, EAB (Agrilus planipennis) is a devastating alien pest of ash trees. It is spreading in European Russia and Ukraine and will appear in other European countries. Our aim was to determine the regions of Europe where the winter temperature drops low enough to prevent A. planipennis establishment. We calculated the minimum daily air temperature from 2003–2019 for each grid square (0.5° × 0.5°) in East Asia, North America and Europe and determined the minimum daily temperature in the grid squares where A. planipennis was recorded. Temperatures of −30 to −33 °C occur in the northern portions of the pest range on all continents. No established population has been recorded in localities where temperatures below −34 °C occur. This temperature is close to the absolute supercooling point of A. planipennis larva (−35.3 °C). It is unlikely that low temperatures could prevent the spread of A. planipennis in northern Western Europe (Sweden, Norway, Finland, etc.), since the temperature in this area did not fall to −34 °C from 2003–2019. However, such temperatures are not rare in eastern European Russia (Kostroma, Vologda, Orenburg regions, etc.), where Fraxinus pennsylvanica and F. excelsior occur. These regions could potentially become refuges for these ash species.

Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is a destructive invasive forest pest in North America and European Russia. This pest species is rapidly spreading in European Russia and is likely to arrive in other countries soon. The aim is to analyze the ecological consequences of the establishment of this pest in European Russia and investigate (1) what other xylophagous beetles develop on trees affected by A. planipennis, (2) how common is the parasitoid of the emerald ash borer Spathius polonicus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) and what is the level of parasitism by this species, and (3) how susceptible is the native European ash species Fraxinus excelsior to A. planipennis. A survey of approximately 1000 Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees damaged by A. planipennis in 13 localities has shown that Hylesinus varius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Tetrops starkii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Agrilus convexicollis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) were common on these trees. Spathius polonicus is frequently recorded. About 50 percent of late instar larvae of A. planipennis sampled were parasitized by S. polonicus. Maps of the distributions of T. starkii, A. convexicollis and S. polonicus before and after the establishment of A. planipennis in European Russia were compiled. It is hypothesized that these species, which are native to the West Palaearctic, spread into central European Russia after A. planipennis became established there. Current observations confirm those of previous authors that native European ash Fraxinus excelsior is susceptible to A. planipennis, increasing the threat posed by this pest. The establishment of A. planipennis has resulted in a cascade of ecological effects, such as outbreaks of other xylophagous beetles in A. planipennis-infested trees. It is likely that the propagation of S. polonicus will reduce the incidence of outbreaks of A. planipennis.

Ash species (Fraxinus spp.) in Europe are threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis, EAB), an invasive wood boring beetle native to East Asia and currently spreading from European Russia westwards. Based on a high-resolution habitat distribution map (grid cell size: 25 × 25 m) and data on distribution and abundance of Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), the most widespread and highly susceptive host species of EAB in Europe, we assess the spatial distribution of EAB invasion risks for southern Central Europe (Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, southern Germany, South Tyrol). We found highest F. excelsior abundance and thus invasion risks in extensive lowland floodplain forests, medium risks in zonal lowland forests and low risks in upper montane and subalpine forests. Based on average velocities of spread in Russia (13–31 km/year) and North America (2.5–80 km/year) from flight and human-assisted transport, EAB is likely to cover the distance (1500 km) between its current range edge in western Russia and the eastern border of the study region within few decades. However, secondary spread by infested wood products make earlier introductions likely. The high susceptibility and mortality of F. excelsior leave no doubt that this beetle will become a major forest pest once it reaches Central Europe. Therefore, developing and testing management approaches with the aim to halt or at least slow down the invasion of EAB in Europe have to be pursued with great urgency.

Wetlands self-organize through reciprocal controls between vegetation and hydrology, but external disturbance may disrupt these feedbacks with consequent changes to ecosystem state. Imminent and widespread emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation throughout North American forested wetlands has raised concern over possible ecosystem state shifts (i.e., wetter, more herbaceous systems) and loss of forest function, calling for informed landscape-scale management strategies. In response, we employed a large-scale manipulative study to assess the ecohydrologic response of black ash wetlands to three alternative EAB management strategies: 1) a do-nothing approach (i.e., simulated EAB infestation via tree girdling), 2) a preemptive, complete harvesting approach (i.e., clearcut), and 3) an overstory replacement approach via group selection. We analyzed six years of daily water table and evapotranspiration (ET) dynamics in six blocks comprising black ash wetlands (controls) and management strategy treatments to quantify potential for hydrologic change and subsequent recovery. In both the do-nothing approach and complete harvesting approach, we found persistent changes in hydrologic regime defined by shallower water tables and lower ET rates coupled with increased herbaceous vegetation growth, indicating ecosystem state shifts driven by vegetation-water table interactions. The do-nothing approach showed the least hydrologic recovery after five years, which we attribute to reduction in overstory transpiration as well as greater shade (via standing dead trees) that reduces open water evaporation and herbaceous layer transpiration compared to complete harvesting. We found no evidence of ecohydrologic disturbance in the overstory replacement approach, highlighting its potential as a management strategy to preserve forested wetland habitat if periodically executed over time before EAB infestation. Although the scale of potential disturbance is daunting, our findings provide a baseline assessment for forest managers to develop preemptive mitigation strategies to address the threat of EAB to ecological functions in black ash wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien species impact environmental quality by disrupting biodiversity, vegetation cover, and displacing native flora and fauna. This can affect human health outcomes. For example, the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) has led to the destruction of millions of ash trees, one of the most common tree species in the US. Since trees are an important source of air pollution sinks, EAB-caused ash dieback may affect human health through changes in air quality. The quasi-random nature of EAB detections and consequent changes in various air pollution levels allow us to analyze differences in mortality rates for individuals living in counties where the beetle has been found relative to individuals in contemporaneously beetle-free counties. Results suggest that EAB are associated with lagged increases in pollutant concentrations ranging from 9.2 to 46.2%. A 2SLS fixed effects model indicates that EAB-induced air pollution is associated with increases in rates of cardiovascular mortality of 6.2/year-32.6/year per 100,000 people and increases in respiratory mortality of 1.9/year-3.9/year per 100,000. Impacts are greatest for children and young adults. At its peak impact, EAB-induced air pollution resulted in $4.8-$21.6 billion in annual mortality costs over 2002-2014 in the 24 US states in the study area. This study has important abatement policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the native range of invasive pests is vital for understanding their biology, for ecological niche modeling to infer potential invasive distribution, and for searching of natural enemies. Standard descriptions of pest ranges frequently pass from one publication to another without verification. Our goal is to test the reliability of distributional information exemplified by the native range of one of the most destructive and most studied invasive forest insect pests of Asian origin—the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire. Since the first detections of this notorious insect pest in North America in 2002 and European Russia in 2003, it has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees. Based on the examination of museum specimens and literature sources we compiled the most comprehensive database of records (108 localities) and the most detailed map of the native range of EAB in East Asia to date. There are documented records for 87 mainland localities of EAB in the Russian Far East (Primorskiy, Khabarovskiy Kray), China (Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong and Xinjiang), and South Korea, and 21 localities in Japan. Records from Nei Mongol, Sichuan, Mongolia, and Taiwan are ambiguous since no documented records are available. The example of EAB shows that standard descriptions of pest ranges could include false or ambiguous data. Compilation of the database of documented localities is the only way to obtain reliable information on the range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread across North America, infesting native ash trees and changing the forested landscape. Black ash wetland forests are severely affected by EAB. As black ash wetland forests provide integral ecosystem services, alternative approaches to maintain forest cover on the landscape are needed. We implemented simulated EAB infestations in depressional black ash wetlands in the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan to mimic the short-term and long-term effects of EAB. These wetlands were planted with 10 alternative tree species in 2013. Based on initial results in the Michigan sites, a riparian corridor in the Superior Municipal Forest in Wisconsin was planted with three alternative tree species in 2015. Results across both locations indicate that silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), American elm (Ulmus americana L.), and northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) are viable alternative species to plant in black ash-dominated wetlands. Additionally, selectively planting on natural or created hummocks resulted in two times greater survival than in adjacent lowland sites, and this suggests that planting should be implemented with microsite selection or creation as a primary control. Regional landowners and forest managers can use these results to help mitigate the canopy and structure losses from EAB and maintain forest cover and hydrologic function in black ash-dominated wetlands after infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an invasive phloem-feeding buprestid, has killed hundreds of millions of ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees in the United States and two Canadian provinces. We evaluated EAB persistence in post-invasion sites and compared EAB adult captures and larval densities in 24 forested sites across an east-west gradient in southern Michigan representing the Core (post-invasion), Crest (high EAB populations), and Cusp (recently infested areas) of the EAB invasion wave. Condition of green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh) trees were recorded in fixed radius plots and linear transects in each site. Ash mortality was highest in Core sites in the southeast, moderate in Crest sites in central southern Michigan, and low in Cusp sites in the southwest. Traps and trap trees in Crest sites accounted for 75 and 60% of all EAB beetles captured in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Populations of EAB were present in all Core sites and traps in these sites captured 13% of all beetles each year. Beetle captures and larval densities at Cusp sites roughly doubled between 2010 and 2011, reflecting the increasing EAB populations. Sticky bands on girdled trees captured the highest density of EAB beetles per m² of area, while baited double-decker traps had the highest detection rates and captured the most beetles. Larval densities were higher on girdled ash than on similar ungirdled trees and small planted trees. Woodpecker predation and a native larval parasitoid were present in all three invasion regions but had minor effects on ash survival and EAB densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a devastating invasive pest of ash trees. This wood-boring insect is native to Asia and established in European Russia about 20 years ago. It severely damages Fraxinus pennsylvanica plantations and quickly spreads. In 2019 we first detected A. planipennis in Ukraine. More than 20 larvae were collected from under the bark of F. pennsylvanica trees on 5 September 2019 in the Markivka District of the Luhansk Region. The coordinates of the localities of collection were 49.614991 N, 39.559743 E; 49.614160 N, 39.572402 E; and 49.597043 N, 39.561811 E. The photos of the damaged trees with larval galleries, exit holes and larvae are presented. It indicates that A. planipennis is established in the east of Ukraine. This fact is important for development of quarantine protocols to prevent or at least slow the further spread of this invasive pest in Europe.

The complete mitogenome of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) was obtained by gleaning mitochondrial sequences from whole-genome Illumina sequencing data. The circular genome has 15,942 base pairs and contains 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) and an A–T-rich region. All PCGs begin with ATN codons. The nucleotide composition is highly asymmetric (31.65% A, 40.25% T, 17.39% G, 10.71% C), with an overall A–T content of 71.9%. Phylogenetic analysis based on insect mitogenomes indicated that EAB is closely related to other Buprestoidea species, clustering most closely with Chrysochroa fulgidissima.

The rapid and extensive expansion of emerald ash borer (EAB) in North America since 2002 may eliminate most existing ash stands, likely affecting critical ecosystem services associated with water and carbon cycling. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated the coupled response of black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marsh.) wetland water tables, soil temperatures, and soil gas fluxes to an EAB infestation. Water table position, soil temperature, and soil CO2 and CH4 fluxes were monitored in nine depressional headwater black ash wetlands in northern Michigan. An EAB disturbance was simulated by girdling (girdle) or felling (ash-cut) all black ash trees with diameters greater than 2.5 cm within treated wetlands (n = 3 per treatment). Soil gas fluxes were sensitive to water table position, temperature, and disturbance. Soil CO2 fluxes were significantly higher, and high soil CH4 fluxes occurred more frequently in disturbed sites. Soil CH4 fluxes in ash-cut were marginally significantly higher than girdle during post-treatment, yet both were similar to control sites. The strong connection between depressional black ash wetland study sites and groundwater likely buffered the magnitude of disturbance-related impact on water tables and carbon cycling.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread across North America, infesting native ash trees and changing the forested landscape. Black ash wetland forests are severely affected by EAB. As black ash wetland forests provide integral ecosystem services, alternative approaches to maintain forest cover on the landscape are needed. We implemented simulated EAB infestations in depressional black ash wetlands in the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan to mimic the short-term and long-term effects of EAB. These wetlands were planted with 10 alternative tree species in 2013. Based on initial results in the Michigan sites, a riparian corridor in the Superior Municipal Forest in Wisconsin was planted with three alternative tree species in 2015. Results across both locations indicate that silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), American elm (Ulmus americana L.), and northern white cedar (Thuja occidentalis L.) are viable alternative species to plant in black ash-dominated wetlands. Additionally, selectively planting on natural or created hummocks resulted in two times greater survival than in adjacent lowland sites, and this suggests that planting should be implemented with microsite selection or creation as a primary control. Regional landowners and forest managers can use these results to help mitigate the canopy and structure losses from EAB and maintain forest cover and hydrologic function in black ash-dominated wetlands after infestation.

Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), native to Asia, is a destructive invasive pest of ash Fraxinus spp. in U.S.A., Canada and European Russia. It is spreading quickly and will probably soon be detected in other European countries., Information about the life cycle of the pest is needed for detection and survey efforts, development of control options and predicting the potential range in Europe. The life cycle has been studied in North America and Asia, although it has not previously been studied in European Russia., The number of larval instars and the duration of development of A. planipennis in European Russia were determined. Distributions of width of epistome and length of urogomphi indicated four larval instars. The number of excretory ducts and the presence of ledges did not provide a clear differentiation between instars. Development in most of the specimens took 2 years., Generation time is flexible. In warmer regions (Tianjin), most individuals finish development in 1 year, whereas, in colder regions (Moscow, Changchun, Harbin), it takes 2 years. In intermediate climatic regions (Michigan), the ratio of 1 : 2-year life cycles depends on additional factors. The flexibility of the life cycle allows A. planipennis to establish in regions with different climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is a destructive invasive forest pest in North America and European Russia. This pest species is rapidly spreading in European Russia and is likely to arrive in other countries soon. The aim is to analyze the ecological consequences of the establishment of this pest in European Russia and investigate (1) what other xylophagous beetles develop on trees affected by A. planipennis, (2) how common is the parasitoid of the emerald ash borer Spathius polonicus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) and what is the level of parasitism by this species, and (3) how susceptible is the native European ash species Fraxinus excelsior to A. planipennis. A survey of approximately 1000 Fraxinus pennsylvanica trees damaged by A. planipennis in 13 localities has shown that Hylesinus varius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Tetrops starkii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Agrilus convexicollis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) were common on these trees. Spathius polonicus is frequently recorded. About 50 percent of late instar larvae of A. planipennis sampled were parasitized by S. polonicus. Maps of the distributions of T. starkii, A. convexicollis and S. polonicus before and after the establishment of A. planipennis in European Russia were compiled. It is hypothesized that these species, which are native to the West Palaearctic, spread into central European Russia after A. planipennis became established there. Current observations confirm those of previous authors that native European ash Fraxinus excelsior is susceptible to A. planipennis, increasing the threat posed by this pest. The establishment of A. planipennis has resulted in a cascade of ecological effects, such as outbreaks of other xylophagous beetles in A. planipennis-infested trees. It is likely that the propagation of S. polonicus will reduce the incidence of outbreaks of A. planipennis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a serious invasive forest pest in North America responsible for killing tens to hundreds of millions of ash trees since it was accidentally introduced in the 1990s. Although host-plant resistance and natural enemies are known to be important sources of mortality for EAB in Asia, less is known about the importance of different sources of mortality at recently colonized sites in the invaded range of EAB, and how these relate to host tree crown condition. To further our understanding of EAB population dynamics, we used a large-scale field experiment and life-table analyses to quantify the fates of EAB larvae and the relative importance of different biotic mortality factors at 12 recently colonized sites in Maryland. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Life-table analyses also indicated how the lack of sufficient levels of host tree resistance and natural enemies contribute to rapid population growth of EAB at recently colonized sites. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EAB has been able to successfully establish and spread in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Emerald ash borer is a pest of North American ash that has caused significant mortality within its introduced range. The timeline for tree mortality, once infested by emerald ash borer, is variable for individual trees, with a small proportion surviving infestation. Using tree health assessments and signs of emerald ash borer infestation, researchers developed decision models to predict the probability of mortality. Two resulting models performed well at correctly predicting mortality (>83% correct) and significantly separating probability of mortality for those trees. Both models used diameter at breast height (DBH) and presence of bark splits, with one including percent crown dieback and the other including vigor rating (overall tree health assessment). A third model had reduced correct prediction of mortality, but was still potentially an effective model. Other tested models had shortcomings in prediction of mortality or in separation of probabilities of mortality. Using variables from three potential decision models, the year of mortality was modeled. However, specific year prediction was not as effective. Because of a wide range of external factors, prediction of a specific year of mortality may not be appropriate. Using DBH and rapid health and infestation assessment data, the authors were able to correctly predict ash mortality within a three-year period for the majority of trees within this study. Management strategies that use these models for developing hierarchical removal programs for infested ash may distribute financial and environmental costs over multiple years as opposed to mass removal of street and park trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ash species (Fraxinus spp.) in Europe are threatened by the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis, EAB), an invasive wood boring beetle native to East Asia and currently spreading from European Russia westwards. Based on a high-resolution habitat distribution map (grid cell size: 25 × 25 m) and data on distribution and abundance of Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), the most widespread and highly susceptive host species of EAB in Europe, we assess the spatial distribution of EAB invasion risks for southern Central Europe (Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, southern Germany, South Tyrol). We found highest F. excelsior abundance and thus invasion risks in extensive lowland floodplain forests, medium risks in zonal lowland forests and low risks in upper montane and subalpine forests. Based on average velocities of spread in Russia (13-31 km/year) and North America (2.5-80 km/year) from flight and human-assisted transport, EAB is likely to cover the distance (1500 km) between its current range edge in western Russia and the eastern border of the study region within few decades. However, secondary spread by infested wood products make earlier introductions likely. The high susceptibility and mortality of F. excelsior leave no doubt that this beetle will become a major forest pest once it reaches Central Europe. Therefore, developing and testing management approaches with the aim to halt or at least slow down the invasion of EAB in Europe have to be pursued with great urgency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]