How to collect ash seeds for research into invasive emerald ash borer

From British Columbia to California, volunteers are collecting ash seeds to help researchers at Oregon State University find genetic resistance to the invasive emerald ash borer .

The emerald ash borer is native to Asia and likely arrived in the U.S. from wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes from Asia. Since arriving in Michigan nearly two decades ago, the beetle has devastated native ash populations.

The larvae of the beetle feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the flow of water and nutrients. In June 2022, the first detection of the emerald ash borer was found in Forest Grove, marking the first confirmation of the invasive beetle on the West Coast, according to the OSU Extension Service.

Here’s what volunteers need to know about ash seed collection,