emerald ash borer is coming
Emerald Ash Borer has been found in Iowa. The most recent infestation was documented in August 2014 in Story County. Story County is the 13th confirmed infestation in the state. The Emerald Ash Borer is expected to keep spreading through-out the State of Iowa… are communities prepared for this disease or any other potential diseases of the future?
“The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) is perhaps one of the most destructive tree pests we have seen in decades. Larvae of this insect feed under the bark of ash trees. They damage the ability of the tree to transport water and nutrients, and may kill the tree in as little as two to four years,” states Jesse Randall, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach Forestry.
Join Randall on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Western Iowa Tech Community College, Cherokee campus auditorium, 200 Victory Dr., where he discusses all aspects of EAB and what that means for the future.
Iowa found emerald ash borer for the first time in 2010. The pest was found on an island in the main channel of the Mississippi River that was less than a mile from known infested areas in Wisconsin and Minnesota. To date, the emerald ash borer has been officially found in thirteen Iowa counties: Allamakee, Des Moines, Jefferson, Cedar, Union, Black Hawk, Bremer, Wapello, Jasper, Henry, Muscatine, Boone, and Story Counties.
The entire State of Iowa was placed under quarantine for EAB on Feb. 4, 2014, to slow the accidental movement of EAB by humans to areas outside of Iowa. A matching statewide Federal quarantine is also active.
Information at the Dec. 2 seminar will focus on EAB identification, current locations of EAB in Iowa, treatment options, and tree replacement options for homeowners. Randall will discuss the individual treatment options available to homeowners and when is the best time to apply the chemicals for maximum effectiveness. Participants will be shown what signs and symptoms to look for to help in the search for new EAB infestations and who to contact if you think your trees have EAB. Information will be given as to common ash tree decline symptoms that are not related to EAB as well.
Learn about the Iowa EAB Team who provide EAB diagnostic assistance to landowners. They include officials from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and the USDA Forest Service.
The Iowa EAB Team strongly cautions Iowans not to transport firewood across county or state lines, since the movement of firewood throughout Iowa or to other states increases the risk of spreading EAB infestations.
Seminar is free to the public.
Register by Nov. 26 by calling the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Cherokee 712-225-6196 or email Mary Dunn at mdunn@iastate.edu.
