Emerald ash borer detected in state: experts available for comment

Today (Aug. 4), the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) announced the first identification of emerald ash borer in the state of Wisconsin. The following are experts in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UW-Extension who can provide expert commentary on what the identification means and the implications for Wisconsin’s trees.

Phil Pellitteri is an extension entomologist who is in charge of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab and is involved in a wide variety of entomology outreach programs geared to the general public. With Chris Williamson, he has co-authored a Web site on spotting and dealing with emerald ash borers.
CONTACT: pellitte@plantpath.wisc.edu, (608) 262-6510

Chris Williamson is an extension entomologist who has developed educational materials about the emerald ash borer. He is also doing work in the Chicago metropolitan area to evaluate the efficacy of insecticides for emerald ash borer control. He was a reviewer of the DATCP’s EAB Response Plan.
CONTACT: rcwillie@entomology.wisc.edu, (608) 262-4608

Entomology professor Ken Raffa specializes in forest entomology, with a focus on processes that affect the population dynamics of forest insects. Raffa has done a great deal of work with other invasive insect species in Wisconsin forests, including gypsy moths, root weevils, introduced basswood thrips and pine sawflies. He has a publication scheduled to come out on the gut bacteria of the emerald ash borer.
CONTACT: raffa@entomology.wisc.edu, (608) 262-1125

Phil Townsend, an associate professor of forest and wildlife ecology, is a specialist in forest ecosystems who uses satellite imagery and other methods to understand the effects of insects and other pests. He has a study under way on mapping the ash distribution in Wisconsin to identify where the ash stands are and which of these are most vulnerable. He has also done work on the spruce budworm infestations in northern forests and on gypsy moth impacts.
CONTACT: ptownsend@wisc.edu, (608) 262-1669