purple bags in trees

TerryRC, I've seen purple bags hanging in trees near route 2 in two locations. I'm thinking it is not a coincidence and I'm thinking it is to maybe measure a population of say, Emerald Ash Borers. Would that be correct?

It would be correct. They are hung statewide (around 20 per county, except for Fayette that was trapped on a 5k grid).

I've been maintaining them McDowell and Wyoming Counties.

I was chosen for this because I have no fear.

I love it down there but the counties are in some dire economic shape.

The newest, best kept building in Welch is the SS Admin building.

No fear of...? Heights? The two I saw are pretty darn high up there. How do you remember where you put them? GPS?

The best kept building in Wheeling the new SS admin building. 2nd best kept building is the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse/Post Office. Although I will confess they've restored three or four old warehouses privately and the Motorola franchisee has done a tremendous job.

While measuring the ash borer do these collection sites kill them as well?

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/Detection%20Poster%20for%20public%20meeting.pdf

No fear of...? Heights? The two I saw are pretty darn high up there. How do you remember where you put them? GPS?

No fear of insular ruralists with guns.

We put them up with extendable poles.

I have GPS coords for them but I also drew a little map for each one.

At this point, I pretty much have them memorized.

Did you see the Sheik's question above? Are the collection sites fatal to the emerald ash borers? What is it about the bags that attracts the little buggers?

They aren't really bags, they are cardboard prisms, open at top and bottom.

They are baited with a chemical attractant that, combined with the color of the trap, supposedly lures them in.

Yes, they are fatal to the beetle, and anything else that blunders into them, as they are coated with "stick-em".

They are not meant to be a "control" trap, just a "detection" trap.

I got that they were a detection trap rather than a control one, I just wanted to know if they served an immediately practical function as well (although I don't suppose that they make even a dent in the ultimate population).

I just wanted to know if they served an immediately practical function as well

They do serve an immediately practical function - presence/absence data for outbreak and quarantine planning.

We are just nitpicking "immediately" here. I like immediate incapacitation and/or death, not quarantine within a few hours or days.

We are just nitpicking "immediately" here. I like immediate incapacitation and/or death, not quarantine within a few hours or days.

The minute I look at the trap, I immediately know presence or absence. I don't consider pointing that out to be nitpicking. As to the "practical" part, that is obvious.