Todd P. Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, announced survey results Tuesday that indicate infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer appear to be confined to Northern Virginia.

Only 14 of more than 3,000 traps were positive for EAB. All of these were located in Arlington and Fairfax Counties, areas already known to have EAB.

In an effort to determine the extent of the EAB infestation in Virginia, VDACS, the United States Department of Agriculture and Fairfax County’s Urban Forest Management Program cooperated in implementing the 2009 EAB survey.

In April, VDACS placed 3,274 traps throughout the Commonwealth, including 2,693 traps in Northern Virginia. The large purple traps were inspected several times throughout the summer to ensure proper placement and to replace the lure and collect specimens. Suspect specimens were sent to the Insect Identification Laboratory at Virginia Tech for identification.

“While we did see indications of continued EAB activity in Northern Virginia, we did not trap any borers in other parts of the state" says Haymore. "It is possible that the insect has spread to other areas. However, so in all likelihood, we will survey the state again in 2010.”

EAB survey results allow officials to track the progression of the insect, which in turn helps landowners and localities make appropriate damage mitigation decisions, including the destruction of infected trees. The results also assist uninfested localities in developing prevention and response plans.

EAB larvae kill ash trees by feeding on the inner bark and disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. The damage caused by this invasive insect to homeowners, landowners, nursery and forest products industries is estimated in the millions of dollars. Since 2002, EAB has spread to 13 states and killed millions of ash trees.

The first discovery of EAB in Virginia occurred in Fairfax County in 2003. At that time, an eradication project was undertaken and subsequent surveys suggested that the eradication had been successful.

However, in July of 2008, EAB was again discovered in the Northern Virginia counties of Arlington and Fairfax. At that time, VDACS and the USDA established a quarantine to regulate the movement of articles capable of transporting EAB.

At present, the quarantine covers the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William.