GW: Once it get started, it’s just a matter of time before the ash trees are dead. Once they begin to die off, good land managers will plan for felling the dead and dying trees before they become an unsafe hazard. It’s best no to wait too long, because standing dead ash can break off anywhere along the main trunk, which makes it especially dangerous.
Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect that kills ash trees has been detected for the first time in Jennings, Pike, Scott, Spencer, Sullivan and Warrick counties. Purple panel traps used to detect the pest captured EAB adults in Pike, Spencer, Sullivan and Warrick counties.
A visual survey of woodpecker-attacked ash trees found EAB in Jennings and Scott counties. Both counties were already quarantined for EAB. Of Indiana’s 92 counties, 79 have now detected EAB. Moving firewood spreads forest pests. The Indiana EAB quarantine regulates the movement of certain materials such as whole ash trees, ash limbs, untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, and cut firewood of any hardwood species with the bark attached. With EAB detections in these new counties, the effectiveness of the quarantine is being evaluated.
A decision will be announced in the new year as to whether the county-level quarantine will continue. Visitors to DNR properties may only bring in firewood if it is certified by the USDA or DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, or is free of bark.
For more information on EAB, or to report an infestation, visit eabindiana.info or call Indiana DNR’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-NO EXOTIC (663-9684). To view the EAB Rule and EAB quarantine declaration visitdnr.IN.gov/entomolo/3443.htm.
