Emerald Ash Borer Trapping Procedures 2012 Texas Forest Service Goal: To survey ash habitats in selected counties in Texas to detect the presence of the emerald ash borer, EAB (Agrilus planipennis), following procedures proposed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Trap: The standard 3-panel purple EAB survey trap will be used exclusively. Lure: The commercial EAB lure, containing fragrant oils attractive to EAB, will be attached to the interior of the trap. Each lure will be replaced once in late May or June. Location of trap: If feasible, install one trap at each location preselected by APHIS as indicated by a red dot and GPS coordinates on the EAB county map. Each red dot is the center of a circular 250-acre (1/2 square mile) sampling area. The trap is to be hung from the lower branch of an ash tree (Fraxinus spp.). If possible, ash trees should be 8 inches DBH or larger, located along edges, in open areas, or in parks. Exceptions to preselected trap location: If there is no ash available following a reasonable search within the preselected trapping cell, list the trap location as VOID. If there is no easy access to the preselected trapping cell, the landowner refuses permission to install the trap, or the trapping cell is more than 50 yards from a road, list the trap location as OMIT. Record the trap number and provide a reason for each trap designated as OMIT (see data sheet). Relocating traps: Each trap that is classified as a VOID or OMIT should be relocated to anotherlocation within the same county. For alternate trap locations, preference should be given to 1) alternate APHIS predetermined trap locations that have a probability > 0.300 of finding an EAB (list available from rbillings@tamu.edu ). If no such locations are available in your county, then place the trap in high risk sites for EAB infestation (state or federal campgrounds, parks, hardwood-processing yards, rest stops, etc. with ash trees.) For trapping locations which do not have an APHIS code assigned, or when a trap is classified as VOID or OMIT is placed in a different location, please use the following trap numbering convention: 2 letters for State designation, 3 letters for surveyor s initials, and 3 numbers for trap number, e.g., TXJAD001, (Texas, John A. Doe, Trap 1). Each surveyor should begin with 001 for the first trap which does not have an APHIS assigned Cell_ID (including traps destined for TAES locations) and 1
increased by one for each subsequent trap (the second such trap is 002, the third is 003 and so on). Assembling the trap: Carefully separate one trap. Fold the second trap with sticky side in and cover exposed sticky surface with wax paper to facilitate transport to next trap location. Assemble trap by folding into a triangle, with sticky side out. Place 4-inch flap on inside of trap. Insert tabs into holes such that end of tabs are on inside of trap. Using an ice pick or small screwdriver, punch two holes about one foot apart on side of trap where it is joined. Secure sides of trap with 4- or 8-inch cable ties inserted through the punched holes and trim off excess from each cable tie. Add wire separator to top of trap and secure each junction (where separator meets trap) with a cable tie. Attach lure to center of wire hanger such that lure hangs inside the trap. Installing trap with wire hanger: Each trap should be placed 6-12 feet above the ground, out of reach of children. If a wire hanger is used, install the trap with an extension pole or step ladder. Loop the end of hanger around itself to avoid having the trap blow down. A piece of string should be used to extend from the base of the trap to the tree, to avoid the trap blowing excessively in the wind. Installing trap with wire hanger: Each trap should be placed 6-12 feet above the ground, out of reach of children. If a wire hanger is used, install the trap with an extension pole or step ladder. Loop the end of hanger around itself to avoid having the trap blow down. A piece of string should be used to extend from the base of the trap to the tree, to avoid the trap blowing excessively in the wind. Installing trap with string: Use heavy string or catfish line tied to the center of the wire trap spreader as an alternative to the wire hanger. Throw the string over a lower branch using a weight tied to the end of the string. Tie the lose end of the string to the trunk of the tree, leaving sufficient string to lower the trap for collection of insects. Another piece of string should be used to tie the base of the trap to the tree to prevent excessive movement in wind. Trap and tree labels: Each trap should have one label stating Do Not Disturb on one panel and another label with Texas Forest Service and a local contact phone number or your business card (in case the trap falls down). Place the labels on the lower 1/3 of one panel and cover with shipping tape. Another Do Not Disturb label should also be stapled to the trunk of the tree containing the trap. 2
Digital photos: Take a low resolution (1000 x 700 pxl) digital photo of the landscape where trap was placed, showing the trap in the photo. Also take a close-up photo of the ash tree at the site, including foliage if possible. Record the photo numbers from your camera on the data sheet. Relabel image numbers with county and trap number when back in office. Field data form: Fill out one APHIS EAB Field Data Form (attached) for each trap installed. List either the APHIS trap number or the new trap number (for traps moved from APHIS locations or not placed in APHIS locations) for question 2 (Location Site) on the field data form. Use the same data form for initial and subsequent visits to the trap location to record date trap was installed, date monitored, and date removed from the field. If trap is missing or destroyed, record the date this was first noted and don t bother replacing the trap. For trap height, mark as Low if trap hangs below first whorl of branches and High if above first whorl. Fill in other requested information on field data form. Provide description or sketch location of trap in box provided on data form or attach photo map showing exact trap location. For each APHIS trap location determined to be VOID or OMIT, fill out a separate field data form. For question 1 (Date set), list the date the trap was determined to be a VOID or OMIT. List the APHIS trap number as question 2 (Location Site). Fill in question 6 (county). Leave the other questions blank, except numbers 11 and 12. For question 11,indicate either VOID or OMIT. If OMIT, then, in number 12, check the reason for listing the location as OMIT (i.e., no road access). Recording trap location: Record the GPS coordinates (latitude: longitude in degree decimals (N31.79048 W-096.05906) ) while standing directly beneath the trap. Also record 1) county, 2) trap number, 3) tree species as either ash or not ash, 4) diameter of tree containing the trap, 5) digital photo image numbers (see next step), and make and model of GPS unit used to determine coordinates. Describe physical location of trap with reference to access (i.e., 400 feet west of campground entrance on north side of road.) Recording trap location: Record the GPS coordinates (latitude: longitude in degree decimals (N31.79048 W-096.05906) ) while standing directly beneath the trap. Also record 1) county, 2) trap number, 3) tree species as either ash or not ash, 4) diameter of tree containing the trap, 5) digital photo image numbers (see next step), and make and model of GPS unit used to determine coordinates. Describe physical location of trap with reference to access (i.e., 400 feet west of campground entrance on north side of road.) Trap agreement: If the trap is to be installed on private lands, it is advisable to have the landowner sign the Trap Agreement Form shown at the end of this document. This document protects both the Texas Forest Service and landowner from liability related to deploying and 3
monitoring the trap. Once the landowner has signed the agreement, send it to Terry Smith by mail (Texas Forest Service, 200 Technology Way, Suite 1151, College Station, TX 77845) or fax (979-458-7386) for his signature. A copy with both TFS and landowner signatures will be returned to the landowner. Trapping Schedule: Traps should be installed in the field following leaf out of ash in March, monitored once in late May or June, then removed from the field in August. Lures should be replaced during the first revisit (late May or June). Trapping supplies: The following trapping supplies are recommended: Purple EAB traps Trap spreaders Trap hangers (optional) Heavy string or catfish line Ice pick or narrow screw driver for punching holes in trap Cable ties Pocket knife, box cutter, or pliers to cut cable ties (optional) Extension pole with modified paint roller hook, if wire hanger is used (optional) 6-10 foot step ladder (optional) Do Not Destroy labels Texas Forest Service labels or your business cards GPS unit Digital camera, batteries, memory card Paper towels Baby oil or other hand cleaner (for cleaning hands of sticky goo) Roll of wax paper (to cover sticky trap surface of single trap during transport) Latex gloves (optional) 2-inch clear shipping tape and dispenser; scotch tape and dispenser EAB lures Duct tape (optional) Clip board with data sheet Stapler and staples for tree signs (optional) Collection of insects: The trap should be revisited in late May or June and again in August. Record specific dates of revisits and date of removal on field data form for that site. Lower the trap to the ground and carefully inspect all 3 panels of the trap. Remove any beetle resembling EAB (about ½-inch long, elongated body) and place in a glass vial with 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. If the insect is too wide (½-inch long) 4
to fit in a 4-dram vial, it is not an EAB and doesn t need to be collected. Include all beetles or other insects that look like they could be EAB, based on size and shape. (Emerald color may be masked by sticky paste). Label the vial with date, county, trap number, and collector name, using a permanent ink pen. Stick label on outside of vial and cover with scotch tape, enough to encircle the vial. Place all insect vials in a packing box and mail to Joe Pase, Texas Forest Service, P.O. Box 310, Lufkin, TX 75901. Insect collecting/trap maintenance supplies: 4 or 6 or 8-dram screw-cap glass vials Isopropyl alcohol Grout trowel (optional) New lures Forceps (optional) Scotch tape and dispenser Indelible ink pen and labels for vials After late May/June collection of insects: Scrape debris off trap with grout trowel (optional). Replace old lure with fresh one. Re-install trap in tree. Replacement of traps: Replace severely-damaged or missing traps with new ones (if a replacement trap is available). Record date and reason for trap replacement. After last insect collection in August: Remove trap, string, and labels from field. Dispose of trap in dumpster or by other means after recovering trap spreader and wire hanger. Celebrate end of the EAB trapping season as warranted. Submitting data forms: After the traps are set in the field, as well as after each collection visit, fax a copy of each field data form to Joe Pase (Fax = 956-639-8175) or send by mail to Joe Pase, Texas Forest Service, Forest Health, P.O. Box 310, Lufkin, TX 75901. Keep the original in your office since more data will be added when the traps are collected. For questions or more information: Contact Ron Billings, Texas Forest Service in College Station (rbillings@tfs.tamu.edu) or by phone at 979-458-6650. In East Texas, contact Joe Pase, Texas Forest Service (jpase@tfs.tamu.edu) or by phone at 936-639-8170. In Central, South or West Texas, contact James Houser, Texas Forest Service in Austin (jhouser@tfs.tamu.edu) or by phone at 512-339-4589. 5
TEXAS FOREST SERVICE A State of Texas Agency and Member of The Texas A&M University System AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT is between the Texas Forest Service ( TFS ), a member of The Texas A&M University System, an agency of the state of Texas and ( LANDOWNER ). WITNESSETH, that TFS and LANDOWNER hereby agree: 1. Purpose: With permission from the landowner, TFS will, as part of its Forest Health program, install a detection trap (3-panel, purple trap measuring 24 inches tall) on or near an ash tree on the landowner s property to monitor for the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), an invasive pest of ash trees. The purpose of the survey, funded and administered by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is to determine if this invasive pest of ash is present in Texas. The location of the property is: 2. Responsibilities of LANDOWNER: LANDOWNER shall allow TFS and/or its cooperators (Members of Texas Master Naturalists or Invaders of Texas Citizen Scientists), access to the trap location for purposes of installation, monitoring, and removal. Upon installation of the trap, LANDOWNER shall hold TFS harmless in accordance with paragraph 6.5 of this agreement. 3. Responsibilities of TFS: 3.1. TFS or its cooperators (Master Naturalists or Citizen Scientists) shall install the trap during the period February 1 - April 30, 2012, visit the trap in early summer (May or June), then remove the trap in August, 2012. 3.2. TFS and its cooperators (Master Naturalists or Citizen Scientists) will take care to protect the landowner s property and trees during each visit to the trap site and will not harm the tree selected to support the trap. 4. Term of Agreement: The term of this Agreement shall commence on or after February 15, 2012 and terminate no later than September 15, 2012. 6
5. Agreement Amount: TFS will pay $0.00 as compensation for access to the LANDOWNER s property or for the installation and monitoring of the trap. 6. Agreement Terms and Conditions: 6.1. This Agreement constitutes the sole agreement of the parties and supersedes any and all other oral or written understanding or agreements. 6.2. This Agreement may only be amended or modified in writing with express mutual consent of both parties. 6.3. This Agreement is not assignable without the express written consent of both parties, prior to any such assignment. 6.4. This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of Texas. Texas law shall govern regardless of any language in any attachment or other document that LANDOWNER may provide. Venue for any action between the parties arising from this Agreement shall be maintained in the courts of Brazos County, Texas. 6.5. LANDOWNER agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the State of Texas, The Texas A&M University System, TFS, its officers, directors, or employees of these entities, against any claims, loss, liability, or expense incurred by virtue of the performance of this agreement. LANDOWNER will hold harmless the State of Texas, The Texas A&M University System, TFS, its agents, officers, directors and employees from any damage sustained in the nature of personal injury or property loss to LANDOWNER, guests, contractors, and subcontractors. 6.6. All notices, consents, approvals, demands, requests, or other communications provided for, required of, or permitted to be given under any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given or served when delivered by hand delivery, delivered by an express delivery service, or when deposited in the U.S. mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows: TFS LANDOWNER (include mailing address) Texas Forest Service Purchasing Office 200 Technology Way College Station, TX 77845 Attention: Terry Smith Fax: (979) 458-7386 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, TFS and LANDOWNER have executed and delivered this Agreement to be effective as of the effective date outlined in paragraph 4. TEXAS FOREST SERVICE Landowner By Associate Director for Finance and Administration By Signature Print or Type Name 7
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