NASHVILLE (WATE) - Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive insect that destroys ash trees, has been found in Union and Monroe counties, officials announced Monday.
These areas are next to counties already under an EAB quarantine. The identification was made recently and confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"The spring, summer Emerald Ash Borer surveys are in full swing to determine the extent of the infestation," said Tennessee Department of Agriculture Plant Certification Administrator Gray Haun.
"We will be working closely with federal officials and other stakeholders to take steps to limit its spread when found and protect our forest resources and urban landscapes," he added.
EAB attacks only ash trees. It is believed to have been introduced into the Detroit, Mich. area 15 to 20 years ago on wood packing material from Asia.
Since then, the destructive insect has killed millions of ash trees across several states including: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Union and Monroe counties will now be added to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine. This brings the total number of Tennessee counties to 13.
Anderson, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins and Roane counties were added in May.
Blount, Claiborne, Grainger, Knox, Loudon and Sevier counties were placed under quarantine in 2011.
The quarantine prohibits the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, ash timber and other material that can spread EAB.
Due to the new discovery, citizens can expect expanded surveys and should report any symptomatic ash trees to TDA.
"People in Tennessee can expect to see trappers servicing the big purple traps in June throughout the state and checking for Emerald Ash Borers," said Haun. "The purple traps are coated with an adhesive that captures insects when they land. The color is thought to be attractive to EAB, and is relatively easy for humans to spot among the foliage."
Typically, the Emerald Ash Borer beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation.
Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide. In Tennessee, most EAB adults fly in May and June. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees.
When they emerge as adults, they leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry estimates that 5 million urban ash trees in Tennessee are potentially at risk from EAB. The risk represents an estimated value loss of $2 billion.
There are an estimated 261 million ash trees on Tennessee public and private timberland potentially valued as high as $9 billion.
Emerald ash borer (source: Tennessee Department of Agriculture)
