The emerald ash borer has been found in three more counties in the state: Chariton, Layfayette and Moniteau, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. That brings the total of counties known to have the pest in the state to 78.
EAB is a small, metallic green beetle native to Asia that attacks all species of ash trees. It kills more than 99 percent of the trees it attacks.
One sign of an EAB infestation is bark blonding or woodpecker damage on ash trees. When the beetle is present, woodpeckers often remove portions of the bark while looking for insects, revealing the light-colored inner bark, according to MDC forest entomologist, Robbie Doerhoff. He said MDC has received dozens of reports this winter of ash trees with bark blonding. And, according to MDC, that’s a sign that EAB populations are increasing rapidly across the state.
Doerhoff said in some areas of Missouri most ash trees will be dead in a year or two.
MDC encourages Missourians to report possible EAB infestations in counties where the pest has not yet been confirmed. Reports can be made by using the online form at eab.missouri.edu or by calling MDC’s Forest Pest Hotline at 866-716-9974.
Doerhoff said EAB will be in all Missouri counties in the next few years, and he encourages anyone with ash trees to either remove them or treat them with insecticide.
For more information about the emerald ash borer in Missouri, click here.