Emerald Ash Borer and Spotted Lanternfly

Surveys at NJARNG and NJDMAVA Facilities

Greg Fischer
Advisors: John Hallagan and Tait Chirenje
Stockton University Environmental Internship Program
in Collaboration with New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

Abstract
The emerald ash borer (EAB) and spotted lanternfly (SLF) are invasive insects which have recently appeared in New Jersey. Both insects have the potential to adversely impact New Jersey
Army National Guard (NJARNG) and New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NJDMAVA) facilities by affecting both safety and native vegetation. NJARNG and NJDMAVA
sites were surveyed for the presence/absence of EAB and SLF and the extent of their infestation. In Winter and Spring 2019, site priority levels were assigned to identify facilities that have the
greatest risk of EAB and/or SLF infestation. In Summer 2019, NJARNG and NJDMAVA facilities were surveyed using active and passive methodology to confirm EAB and/or SLF presence.
EAB and SLF were found at seven of the 34 surveyed facilities. These data are being compiled into a comprehensive report that will recommend site-specific tree removal or treatment at the
surveyed facilities.

Introduction Active Survey Methods Results

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and spotted lanternfly Teams of interns surveyed facilities for ash and tree-of-heaven. Due to time constraints, only 34 of the 37 active facilities were
(Lycorma delicatula) are invasive insects that pose threats to native When identified, these trees were catalogued in clusters using surveyed. Of the 34 facilities surveyed, six were found to have
vegetation. EAB can infest and eventually kill all ash (Fraxinus) tags and GPS. Information collected included DBH, height, EAB infestations and two were found to have SLF infestations.
species1. SLF can infest and damage/kill over 70 plant species, distance to NJARNG/NJDMAVA activity/infrastructure, and age. These sites are:
including many important agricultural crops, but it vastly prefers the Once catalogued, the trees were inspected for evidence of EAB
EAB
invasive tree-of heaven (Ailanthus altissima, TOH)2. Infested and and SLF infestation.
• BG Doyle Veterans Cemetery
damaged trees pose a fall risk, which creates a hazard for facility
• Bordentown Armory
structures, property, and site personnel.
• Flemington Armory
• Menlo Park Veterans Home
• Mount Holly Armory
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Figure 7: Measuring tree height with a Figure 8: Inspecting TOH for evidence of SLF
laser hypsometer infestation
SLF
• Flemington Armory
• Lawrenceville Armory
Passive Survey Methods
Figure 20: EAB & SLF survey progress

Over the course of 5 months, SUEIP interns documented 171

Figure 1: Adult Emerald Ash Borer3 Figure 2: Adult Spotted Lanternfly4 Sticky band traps were created with duct tape and petroleum jelly ash and 108 TOH tree clusters at NJDMAVA and NJARNG
facilities, containing nearly 800 and 1,000 trees, respectively.
to monitor sites for SLF nymph emergence. These traps were
affixed to TOH that exhibited signs of SLF infestation and checked
after several weeks of deployment.
Recommendations
• In most cases, ash and/or TOH should be removed
to prevent injury, damage, and further insect spread
• In a small number of cases, ash trees should be
chemically treated because they provide landscape
Figure 3: Emerald Ash Borer Larvae5 Figure 4: Spotted Lanternfly Nymphal Instars6 and/or aesthetic value
Figure 9: SLF sticky band trap at the Figure 10: SLF sticky band trap bycatch at the
The goal of this project is to determine EAB and SLF presence and Washington Armory Hammonton Armory
subsequently recommend action at NJARNG and NJDMAVA facilities.
Possible actions include tree removal, chemical treatment, and
additional monitoring. Evidence of Infestation
Both ash and TOH were visually inspected for evidence of
Site Priority Levels infestation. Surveyors looked for nine EAB indicators and seven
SLF indicators. Evidence found included:
Facilities were assigned EAB & SLF risk levels from 1-8 using data from
NJDMAVA, NJDEP, and NYSIPM: EAB
Figure 21: Ash tree map generated from survey data at the Dover Armory

• Where ash and TOH removal/treatment is cost

prohibitive, additional monitoring/trapping should
be conducted to assign response priority levels

Figure 11: Adult/larvae presence
Figure 12: D-shaped exit holes
Significance
• Important for facility managers, who use the
Figure 13: S-shaped galleries collected data to make informed decisions about tree
removal and/or treatment
• Provides information to NJDA to better understand
the distribution and populations of EAB and SLF in
New Jersey
• Results will be compiled into a formal report to be
added to the NJDMAVA Integrated Natural Resource
Management Plan (INRMP)

Figure 5: Facility EAB risk levels Figure 6: Facility SLF risk levels Figure 14: Crown dieback Figure 15: Epicormic growth Figure 16: Split bark Resources & Acknowledgments
Works Cited:
1. Sites with host tree in counties with confirmed target insect infestations SLF 1. NJDA. (2020). What is Emerald Ash Borer? Retrieved March 4, 2020, from
2. Sites with host tree in counties without confirmed target insect www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/whatiseab.html
2. NJDA. (2020). Spotted Lanternfly. Retrieved March 4, 2020, from
infestations www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/spottedlanternfly.html
3. Zablotny, J. E. (2016). Emerald Ash Borer Beetle. Retrieved March 6, 2020, from
3. Forested (or partially forested) sites in counties with confirmed target www.aphis.usda.gov/wcm/connect/aphis_content_library/aphis-pests-and-diseases/hungry-
pests/the-threat/emerald-ash-borer/emerald-ash-borer-beetle
insect infestations 4. PDA. (2020). Spotted Lanternfly Program Information. Retrieved March 6, 2020, from
4. Sites with trees in counties with confirmed target insect infestations www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/program
-information/Pages/default.aspx
5. Forested (or partially forested) sites in counties without confirmed target 5. Cappaert, D., & bugwood.org. (2002). emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis ). Retrieved March 6,
2020, from www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1460072
insect infestations 6. Dara, S. K., Barringer, L., & Arthurs, S. P. (2015). Lycorma delicatula(Hemiptera: Fulgoridae): A
6. Sites with trees in counties without confirmed target insect infestations New Invasive Pest in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 6(1), 20. doi:
10.1093/jipm/pmv021
7. Sites with no trees Special Thanks to: Survey Photos Provided by:
8. Closed sites or future site use is unknown NJ Department of Military and Veterans
Affairs Environmental Management Bureau,
Greg Fischer and John Hallagan
Figure 17: Adult/nymph presence Figure 18: Weeping wounds Figure 19: Increased ant, wasp,
Stockton University Environmental
bee presence Internship Program Faculty, Staff, and Interns