The Purple Boxes are Back

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) is hanging purple panel traps in trees along roadsides and other open areas in the forest to survey for emerald ash borer (EAB) beetles. The color of the purple traps is pleasing to EAB beetles; the traps contain Manuka oil which, to an EAB beetle, is a pleasant scent that mimics that smell of an ash tree. Insects attracted to the purple panel traps become stuck on the panels. The panel traps are surveyed on a schedule to identify insects on the trap.

Pennsylvania crews will be driving crew-cab pickup trucks with yellow magnetic signs identifying them as PDA Plant Pest personnel. These crews will also be completing visual surveys and sweep netting of brush to potentially catch a beetle. Placement of these traps is part of a much larger EAB management strategy that includes quarantines, closure orders, tree harvesting, surveys, and bans on the movement of firewood to slow the spread of EAB. Since 2002, the EAB beetle has killed 50 million ash trees in the United States. No treatment options exist on a landscape scale. Slowing the spread of the beetle is the only way to slow the killing of ash trees. I Promise. I Will Not Move Firewood.

Warren and Forest Counties will have traps placed throughout the Allegheny National Forest (NF) portions of the counties as part of a large survey grid. Elk and McKean Counties fall outside of the survey grid, therefore the PDA will not hang purple panel traps in these counties. But, State and Private Forestry personnel within the Forest Service will place a few purple panel traps in McKean and Elk Counties on the Allegheny NF in campgrounds, along major highways, and near heavily used sites. PDA will also conduct targeted surveys in these two counties.

Last year 594 purple panel traps were placed on the Allegheny NF. No EAB beetles were detected. Not moving firewood is of key importance in stopping the spread of the beetle. In 2007, slightly over 50% of the firewood used on the Allegheny NF came from out-of-state or from quarantined areas. Both of these scenarios are illegal. In 2008, 25% of the firewood used on the Allegheny NF came from areas it shouldn’t have. Once people learn the dangers of moving firewood, many people willingly comply to save the forest they love. I Promise. I Will Not Move Firewood.