Delimitation and management of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): case study at an outlier infestation in southwestern New York State, United States of America

We present a case study in which we developed an adaptive delimitation technique and implemented and evaluated management of emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in the first infestation discovered in New York State, United States of America. Delimitation was accomplished using 106 girdled “sentinel” trees and management included girdling 18 clusters of trees as population “sinks” to attract EAB and concentrate larvae for removal. Weekly monitoring of traps hung in sentinel trees facilitated early detection of EAB on 12 trees and allowed deployment of additional sentinels and sinks. Sentinel trees were felled and debarked; 12 were positive for EAB larvae and the spatial extent of infestation estimated at ∼48 km2. Sinks nearest the infestation core had the highest numbers of larvae. Larval densities were significantly greater in girdled trees than in proximate ungirdled trees suggesting removal of girdled trees prior to the following year's emergence would lower local EAB densities. Sinks deployed in response to an EAB on a sentinel tree purple prism trap more than 0.6 km from the centre of the known infestation were negative for EAB indicating these would not be effective for managing an infestation of similar size and in similar habitats. This case study provides valuable information to land managers to facilitate delimitation and management of newly discovered EAB infestations. Nous présentons une étude pour laquelle nous avons développé une technique de délimitation adaptative, puis implémenté et évalué la gestion de l'agrile du frêne (AF), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), durant la première infestation découverte dans l’état de New York, aux États-Unis d'Amérique. La délimitation a été effectuée en utilisant 106 arbres «sentinelles» annelés, tandis que la gestion comprennait l'annélation de 18 groupes d'arbres utilisés comme «puits» de population pour attirer l'agrile du frêne et pouvoir concentrer les larves pour les éliminer. Une surveillance hebdomadaire des pièges suspendus dans les arbres sentinelles a facilité la détection précoce de l'agrile du frêne sur 12 arbres et a permis le déploiement de sentinelles et de puits complémentaires. Les arbres sentinelles ont été abattus et écorcés; 12 ont été trouvés positifs pour les larves de l'agrile du frêne et l’étendue spatiale de l'infestation a été estimé à ∼48 km2. Les puits les plus proches du noyau de l'infestation avaient le nombr