Negron, J., & Liebhold, A. M. (2025, December 16). Spread of the invasive emerald ash borer in urban forests. USDA Forest Service. https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/articles/spread-invasive-emerald-ash-borer-urban-forests
The emerald ash borer is an invasive species that attacks and kills ash trees. It was accidentally introduced into the United States from Asia and first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has spread quickly across the eastern United States, killing most ash trees in areas it has invaded. In Colorado, the insect was found in a boulder in 2013, but later it was found along the Front Range. Scientists found that the emerald ash borer spreads faster in cities where ash trees are more common than in natural forests, making it harder for the insect to move. Insecticide treatments and Colorado’s drier climate also help slow the insect population growth.
This article shows how invasive species can cause serious damage, but also how local conditions can reduce their impacts. I think the slower the spread of the emerald ash borer in Colorado, the better, because it gives communities more time to prevent this problem and protect their trees. Ash trees provide shade, lower summer temperatures, and help reduce energy costs in cities. Losing them would be harmful to communities and also expensive. This article shows the importance of early management and planning when dealing with an invasive species. If communities act early and use scientific research, they can reduce the damage and protect the environment.
I enjoyed reading this abstract and found the emerald ash borer very interesting. I’m wondering how impactful they have already been and what any predictions look like for the future?
Fascinating reading about how only a insect can cause so much damage to our trees. Its important to control these insect populations before they get out of hand and destroy even more crucial trees. Im curious how effective these pesticides are that we’ve resorted to using to killing these insects and are there other potential ways to kill these insects?
I really liked how you explained why the emerald ash borer spreading more slowly in Colorado is actually a good thing, because it gives communities more time to manage the problem. This connects to APES because invasive species can seriously disrupt ecosystems, especially when cities plant too many of one tree species and reduce biodiversity. Do you think cities should completely stop planting ash trees, or just focus more on increasing tree diversity in the future?