VANCOUVER - A chance encounter with a tiny beetle has triggered significant research efforts in British Columbia. In June 2023, amateur entomologist Andrew Short was sitting on a bench in downtown Vancouver when a metallic green beetle flew into him. Intrigued, Short captured the insect, took it home for photographs, and later submitted it to authorities. The insect was confirmed as the first emerald ash borer found in Canada west of Manitoba.

Short's unexpected discovery has set off a chain reaction of research aimed at understanding the emerald ash borer, a pest that has devastated ash forests across North America, killing millions of trees in both Canada and the United States. "I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. So, if that’s what some people consider fate, then I guess it was," Short said.

Short, who enjoys searching for insects and plants, noted, "I’m quite versed in invasive species and what they can do, but I certainly hadn’t considered for a moment that I’d ever have a run-in with an emerald ash borer. It’s kind of a strange feeling to realize that you’ve found something that’s that important."

A study published in the journal BioInvasions Records details Short's role in the beetle's discovery and subsequent findings of "heavily infested" trees in Andy Livingstone Park, located about 300 meters from where he encountered the beetle. The study suggests that emerald ash borers, native to East Asia, were likely present in the park as early as 2020.

Chris MacQuarrie, a forest entomologist with Natural Resources Canada and lead author of the study, stated that Short was "the best person" for the beetle to have encountered. He explained, "There are lots of green beetles and people think they’ve found it and they turn it in and we’re really happy when it’s not (an emerald ash borer). But this time, it was."

MacQuarrie emphasized the rarity of finding an adult emerald ash borer, which measures about 1.4 centimeters. He described the Vancouver discovery as a "big jump" from existing infestations in Canada and the United States. Short's quick thinking allowed him to capture the beetle in a makeshift container and later enlist the help of another entomologist to identify it. They concluded it was an invasive species that "shouldn’t have been here."

After submitting a suspected invasive species report to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Short met with agency representatives and handed over the frozen beetle. Following confirmation of its identity, MacQuarrie and other researchers conducted an investigation in Vancouver. They set traps and collected samples from nearby trees. Although traps did not capture any adult ash borers, branch samples revealed 19 larvae.

The closest known infestation in Canada is in Winnipeg, with another population located in Oregon. Researchers have not yet determined how the beetle arrived in Vancouver, but it is often spread through infested wood. An infested tree found in Burnaby last year suggests that the Vancouver beetles could be an extension of an older, undetected infestation.

Emerald ash borers often go unnoticed for years, with sick or dead trees being the first signs of an infestation. The findings in Vancouver indicate there may be other undetected populations in western North America. Short's discovery has provided researchers with a unique opportunity to study the beetle's behavior in Vancouver's maritime climate, where it may grow faster.

MacQuarrie noted that early detection is crucial for implementing mitigation measures, such as using insecticides, removing infected trees, diversifying the tree canopy, and educating the public. The discovery has also sparked interest from researchers in the UK, who are collaborating with Canadian counterparts to study the beetle's impact on European ash species in the city.

Short, who enjoys his bug-catching hobby, remarked that some people find it "weird," but he finds it calming. "You don’t have to look far to find really cool things," he said.