Disease and Insect Update

Disease and Insect Update-Current Statewide Issues

*Emerald Ash Borer Update 2020
EAB is now being found everywhere in suburban Johnson County!
EAB has moved into adjacent counties.

Based on the rapid spread of EAB, we are recommending all homeowners with high value Ash trees inject them for control of Emerald Ash Borer.

Updated Map of EAB spread-January 10th 1st , 2020

Closeup picture of map shows spread of EAB in Kansas.

2015/2016- Emerald Ash Borer is now very active in metro Kansas City!
High value Ash trees need to be treated for EAB control!

September 2014-EAB is on the move!
EAB was confirmed in Shawnee Mission Park and in Overland Park. These 2 recent finds tell us that EAB is moving through Johnson County. Kevin Lapointe, City Forester for Kansas City, Missouri has confirmed that his crews are finding EAB everywhere.

June 26, 2014-Emerald Ash Borer found in Roeland Park, Kansas.
City Forester Carl Wisdom confirmed EAB was found in a trap tree.
This was verified through state and federal agencies.
This is the first confirmed find in the suburban Johnson County area and should be considered a wake-up call for residents with high value Ash trees.

February 20, 2014-
Email from Kevin Lapointe, City Forester, Kansas City Missouri
Kevin emailed this to us on February 20th, I am printing his email so nothing is lost in translation.

Just wanted you to know I confirmed another infestation of EAB this morning at 37^th & Wyandotte. So, in Jackson county we are now aware of established infestations downtown at 11^th & Jefferson, Southwest Blvd & Summit, and now 37^th & Wyandotte (I am confident this one extends over to 39-43^rd St on SW Trafficway where Ash trees have been declining). It is not easy to find. The crew men finding it have been well trained, and we are aggressively looking. Even with that, I believe the beetle has been in each of these infested areas 3-5 years. My point, it is here all over the metro and if you’re not looking for it and you find it, it has probably been there even longer, and you are that much closer to that 2-3 year explosion period in which 50% of all the Ash trees in your area will die within that short period.

If you’re going to treat, TREAT NOW!

*Life Cycle and Identification of EAB- A video by University of Lincoln Nebraska/Dept. of Entomolgy-click on the link below-

Emerald Ash Borer Identification and Life Cycle-

July 15, 2013
On July 5th, the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer in Johnson County.
An adult beetle was found in a trap at the Johnson county landfill
This was confirmed by the USDA/Aphis on July 11th.

Emerald Ash borer is officially here!

August 31, 2012

The Kansas City Star has reported the Emerald Ash Borer
was found in Wyandotte County. Tree inspections by the
Kansas Dept. of Agriculture revealed an infested Ash tree, the
first found in Wyandotte county. The state of Kansas has imposed an emergency 90 day quarantine on Ash wood, products.

Emerald Ash Borer was first found in Parkville, Missouri.
This is far too close to the metro K.C. area for comfort or complacency.
Now is the time to plan, not panic. If you have Ash trees and want to ensure their
health and longevity, they will need to be injected for control of Emerald Ash Borer.
Arborists at VanBooven have an injection good for 2 years of control, that has been proven to work very well in areas of heavy Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

An example of treated trees vs. those untreated. In this case, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Emerald Ash Borer-All native Ash trees are susceptible

(Photos-Pictures of EAB, very distinct d-shaped exit hole, extensive galleries caused by EAB in dead Ash, relative size on penny)

This small but voracious beetle is native to China and believed to have entered the country on wooden shipping pallets.
Estimates on the number of Ash trees killed in the United States are over 20 Million.
Emerald Ash borer was found last year in pheremone traps in Missouri-
Emerald Ash Borer is now in the Parkville, Missouri area.
*ARBORISTS AT VANBOOVEN HAVE A WORKING TREATMENT PLAN IN PLACE AND READY.

For questions about Emerald Ash borer or to speak with a Certified Arborist, contact us at 913-722-3275

For more information:

Kansas Department of Agriculture- http://www.ksda.gov/plant_protection/content/379

U.S. Forest Service-http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/eab/

Thousand Cankers Disease of Walnut-A major threat to native Kansas Walnut

Pictures-Map showing states already affected by Thousand Cankers Disease, close up of Walnut Twig Beetle, infected Walnut limb.

Thousand Cankers disease is caused by the fungus Geosmithia, carried by the Walnut Twig Beetle from infected trees.
The fungus is spread by beetle activity and creates large dead areas on twigs, branches and trunks. The progression of the disease ultimately causes vascular blockage, which kills the tree.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture issued a quarantine order on July 20, 2010, to prevent the spread of Thousand Cankers disease
to Kansas. Walnut is the most valuable timber crop in Kansas and this disease could devastate not only Kansas, but other states with even heavier native Walnut forests and timber production.

*As of this time, there are no treatments for control

For more information:

Kansas Department of Agriculture-http://www.ksda.gov/plant_protection/content/378