On July 25, 2008, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) positively identified emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis,  in Wayne County, Missouri. This is the first detection of EAB in the State of Missouri.

On July 23, 2008, an employee with APHIS’ Plant Protection and Quarantine program collected seven suspected EAB specimens from a purple prism trap placed in the Greenville Campground of the Lake Wappapello Army Corps of Engineers Recreational Area in Wayne County, Missouri. The trap was placed at this location as part of the EAB National Survey, which targets high risk sites for EAB trapping in 48 States. Wayne County, Missouri is located within the Southeast corner of Missouri, in close proximity to the Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas borders.

APHIS is working closely with the Missouri Department of Agriculture to begin delimiting survey work as well as the deployment of additional purple traps in the immediate vicinity of the EAB detections. APHIS is also coordinating with representatives with the Missouri State Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Missouri.

Under IPPC Standards Agrilus planipennis is considered present in some parts of the United States, and subject to official control to prevent further spread.