Bad news for Kentucky's ash trees
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in two Kentucky counties. One of the infestations was found in a residential area of Jessamine County (in the Lexington, KY area), and the other infestation site was found in a wooded area of Shelby County (in the Louisville, KY area),
It was probably inevitable that this insect would be brought into Kentucky, but I am very sorry to hear that it has arrived.
A news report about the discovery of the emerald ash borers suggests two important ways that Kentuckians can help limit the spread of the tree-killing insect:
Kentuckians are asked to avoid transporting firewood, even within the state, and to not buy out-of-state firewood. Firewood could include infected ash wood.
People with ash trees are asked to inspect them. Signs that the insect is present include death of the upper tree canopy, sprouts growing from roots and the trunk, loose bark, signs of woodpecker activity and D-shaped holes in the truck. [sic]
Source: "Insect endangers Ky. ash trees" by Andy Mead, published in the May 26, 2009, Lexington Herald-Leader.
If you think you have an EAB infestation, call the EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512, or the state entomologist, (859) 257-5838. (These are the telephone numbers provided in the above-cited Lexington Herald-Leader article.)
More information about the EAB is available online at the Emerald Ash Borer information website or at the UK Entomology Emerald Ash Borer Page. Also check out the previous Tree Notes articles under the label "Emerald ash borer".
Credit: Kentucky maps from Wikipedia
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| Location of Jessamine County within the state of Kentucky |
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| Location of Shelby County within the state of Kentucky |
"The power to recognize trees at a glance without examining their leaves or flowers or fruit as they are seen, for example, from the car-window during a railroad journey, can only be acquired by studying them as they grow under all possible conditions over wide areas of territory. Such an attainment may not have much practical value, but once acquired it gives to the possessor a good deal of pleasure which is denied to less fortunate travelers."
2 comments -- please add yours:
Sad news about the emerald borer being found in KY. It was to be though. Predictions of it spreading across the U.S. were made by the State of Michigan entomologists several years ago. Michigan was unfortunately the first in the nation to get this infestation and it has spread swiftly in Michigan and is predicted to entirely wipe out all ashes in Michigan as well and all of the U.S. Ashes are fated to meet the same total demise as the majestic Chestnut tree.--Barbara
Hi, Barbara. You can treat the ground around an ash tree with certain chemicals which will be taken up into the tree through the roots. This is supposed to offer some protection against the borers. People may do that for the ash trees on their lawns, but the wild ash trees are probably doomed.
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