"Invasive threat: the emerald ash borer infests ash trees in Russia, causing concern among experts."

In mid-July, the remarkable ornithologist Alexey Ebel from Altai shared his observation on social media. In Barnaul, he noticed ash trees with dried crowns. Unusual green insects with a shiny metallic sheen were visible on the leaves. He assumed that these were emerald ash borers.

Experts from the testing laboratory of the Altai branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Grain Quality Assessment Center" noticed the information shared by Ebel. They contacted the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance in the Altai Territory and the Altai Republic to warn them about a possible infestation of ash trees by emerald ash borers. Together with other experts, they went to the site to examine the trees and collect samples of the insects.

After analysis, it turned out that insects of the Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire species were indeed found. This information was reported to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance.

This insect species is invasive and a dangerous pest that attacks tree trunks, preferring weakened specimens. In their native habitat, the borer population is small and does not pose a serious threat to trees. However, outside their natural range, the emerald ash borer can cause significant damage to ash trees in Europe, Siberia, and North America.

In Russia, the pennsylvanian ash trees, which were actively planted in urban parks in the past, have become the main target for emerald ash borers. The lack of natural enemies in Russia, which help control the insect population in Asia, contributes to the rapid spread of borers and the destruction of trees over large areas. It is known that borer colonies can move a distance of 2.5 to 20 km per year. Among the natural predators that feed on borer larvae, woodpeckers can be highlighted.

The emerald ash borer typically spreads within certain climatic conditions, such as cold winters with temperatures down to -38°C. However, the presence of antifreeze substances and the ability to hide in tree bark allow larvae and overwintering insects to survive even at Siberian temperatures down to -30°C. Borers can also withstand extreme heat up to 53°C.

The ability of borers to fly and their transportation of trees and saplings by humans allow these insects to conquer new territories beyond the initial infection areas. This leads to the expansion of their range and the formation of new colonies.

In the United States and Canada, the emerald ash borer has been recognized as a dangerous quarantine pest and included in the list of quarantine species of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. In 2013, it was included in the registry of quarantine insects of the Eurasian Economic Union.

Previously in Russia, the emerald ash borer was only found in the Russian Far East, in regions such as Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk Krai.

According to the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, over the past three years, the area affected by the emerald ash borer in the country has increased by 26 times, reaching 5.2 million hectares.

In 2024, infestation by the borer was also noted in other regions of Russia. Its presence was reported in Saratov in August, and the invasion was recorded in Nizhny Novgorod in September. A scientific article published in September by scientists from Krasnoyarsk mentions infestation in the green areas of Barnaul. Scientists suggest that due to climate warming, the emerald ash borer may spread to large territories in the Siberian Federal District in the next 10 years.