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M.Ja. Orlova-Bienkowskaja. 2013.
ECOLOGICAL CATASTROPHE: The emerald ash borer destroys ashes in nine regions of European Russia.
Computer Presentation.
PPT-file: orlben2013borok_presentation.ppt
Dear colleagues,
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The emerald ash borer (ясеневая изумрудная узкотелая златка) is one of the most famous invasive beetles in the world. This highly destructive pest has killed 53 million of ash trees in North America. It is one of the most feared beetles in Europe and has the highest quarantine status.
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The economic, ecological and social impacts of this pest could be tremendous given that ash is an important timber and landscape species and one of the main tree species in protective forest belts.
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Ten years ago it was first found in Europe in the city of Moscow. It is believed that the pest was inadvertently introduced from China with wooden boxes. Several years after the first record the beetles were recorded only in Moscow and its vicinity. But in 2012 the emerald ash borer was found in the Smolensk region, and the information about records from the Kaluga and Tula regions appeared in the media.
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This summer I examined about three thousand ash trees in 22 localities of European Russia and found out, that the range of the emerald ash borer has expanded dramatically.
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The pest is rapidly spreading in European Russia and destroys ashes. The larvae of this beetle feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. The tree usually dies within two to six years after the infestation.
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Characteristic D-shaped emergence holes are the reliable evidence of the presence of the emerald ash borer.
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The young beetle emerge from under the bark trough the hole. The shape of this hole corresponds to the shape of its body.
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Now almost all ash trees in Russian capital and its vicinity, both green ash introduced from America and the indigenous European ash, are decimated.
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Damaged trees with the emergence holes have been found not only in Moscow region, but also in Konakovo (Tver region), Michurinsk (Tambov region), Yaroslavl, Kaluga, Orel, Tula, and Voronezh.
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I have found adults of the emerald ash borer in 3 localities in the Moscow region, and in Orel, Tula, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl.
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Data on distribution are summarized in the map. Black dots indicate localities, where the emerald ash borer has been found, white dots with point - localities, where the examination was performed, but the pest was not found. In all examined localities of the Moscow region as well as in the city of Konakovo (Tver region) the most of ash trees have been already killed by the emerald ash borer. The most ash trees in Kaluga, Orel, Tula, Yaroslavl, Michurinsk, and Voronezh appear healthy, but there are groups of damaged and dying trees with characteristic emergence holes there.
According to our data, the northernmost locality of the species is Yaroslavl (230 km northeast from Moscow), the most eastern is Michurinsk (350 km southeast from Moscow), and the most southern is Voronezh (460 km south from Moscow). Adults of the emerald ash borer fly well, but can spread only 6-10 km per year by themselves. How could the beetles spread over 460 km within only 10 years after the first record in Moscow? First, the beetle could appear in European Russia earlier. Second, the long-distance human-assisted spread is quite possible. It is interesting, that the emerald ash borer was found in Michurinsk, near the union railway station, while it was not found in four nearest cities. It may indicate the spread by transport.
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The invasive range of the emerald ash borer is widening rapidly. Within 10 years after the first record in Moscow this pest has spreaded to at least 9 regions of Russian Federation. The area of invasive range exceeds the area of England. The emerald ash borer has been found as far as 460 km from Moscow, while the diatance between the most western point of known range and the western border of Russian Federation is about 180 km. Considering that ash species occur all over Europe, there is no reason to doubt that the emerald ash borer will eventually spread to other European countries. Baranchikov and Kurteev suggested that it would cross the western border of Russia and appear in adjacent countries before 2020. The present data strongly confirm this suggestion.
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The first recorded infestations in European Russia were observed on green ash, because this ash species introduced from America largely dominates in Russian cities, with indigenous European ash being occasionally planted. And it was unclear if European ash is susceptable to the pest. Now it is understood that European ash is indeed susceptable. The survey made by botanists revealed that almost all trees of European ash in Moscow and its vicinity are decimated, and the present survey revealed that the emerald ash borer aslo damages European ashes in Orel, Voronezh, and Tula.
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Current situation with the emerald ash borer in European Russia is quite similar to the situation in North America. The invasive range is expanding. The pest destroys both introduced and indigenous ashes. Ashes in forests and green plantations are in a great danger. Besides that, the ash is one of the main tree species in the protective forest belts. If ash trees in forest belts die, the soil of the southern regions of Russia will be in danger. The emerald ash borer will appear in adjacent countries within several years. The economic and ecological impact could be tremendous.
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Thank you for your attention!