APHIS
Factsheet
Plant Protection and Quarantine
April 2008
Questions and Answers:
USDA’s 2008 Emerald
Ash Borer Survey
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small, metalic-
green, wood-boring beetle that was discovered in
southeast Michigan in 2002. Native to Asia, it is
believed to have been unknowingly transported to
the United States in wood packing material. Since
its discovery, the EAB has been detected in six other
States—Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylva-
nia, and West Virginia. Federal and State quarantines
have been established in these States to mitigate the
spread of EAB. Quarantines prohibit the movement
(within the State and out of the State) of regulated
articles, which include ash nursery stock, green ash
lumber, pallets, branches, stumps, etc., and all
hardwood chips and fi rewood.
Q. What is the 2008 EAB Survey?
A. The 2008 EAB Survey’s goals are to identify the
leading edge of known EAB infestations and to locate
other outlying EAB populations. The survey, con-
ducted in 48 States, will use approximately 60,000
detection tools or “traps” throughout the country.
Q. Who is involved in the 2008 EAB Survey?
A. The EAB survey initiative is a collaborative effort
between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and
numerous State departments of agriculture or natural
resources. In all, 48 States will survey for EAB; how-
ever, because of their differing survey objectives, not
all States will employ the same trap density.
The States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
West Virginia, and Wisconsin will participate in a
delimiting survey within a 100-mile band of known
EAB infestations. These States will deploy purple
traps in a 1.5-mile by 1.5-mile grid where ash is found
growing. (See 2008 Emerald Ash Borer Survey
Guidelines for a map of the survey area). For more
information visit www.purpleeabsurvey.info.
The remaining States will participate in