Officials confirm invasive pest in new area in NE Kansas

NEMAHA COUNTY ( KSNT ) – Officials in Kansas have confirmed that an invasive pest with a hunger for some of the state’s trees has spread to new feeding grounds this fall.

The Kansas Forest Service (KFS) and the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer in Nemaha County in a press release issued on Oct. 17. Fifteen counties now in northeast Kansas contain the invasive insect which commonly targets ash trees.

• Wyandotte
• Johnson
• Leavenworth
• Douglas
• Jefferson
• Atchison
• Doniphan
• Shawnee
• Miami
• Jackson
• Brown
• Osage
• Franklin
• Lyon
• Nemaha

The KFS previously confirmed the pest had spread to Lyon County in June 2024. The new discovery in Nemaha County was confirmed after a live emerald ash borer was found following years of suspicion the insect was already established in that area.

Emerald ash borers are native to eastern Russia and northeastern Asia. They were likely introduced to the U.S. from packing material. The beetles pose a threat to urban and rural forests as they target and kill North American ash tree species.

Officials with the KFS say at least 70 million ash trees have already been destroyed due to the emerald ash borer and around nine billion North American ash trees will eventually be destroyed by their activities. Landowners are encouraged to learn the signs and symptoms of the insects in their local ash trees and create a replacement plan for ash trees on their property as healthy trees die off.

People looking for a list of certified arborists to consult in counties where the insect has been confirmed can use this link . Landowners in counties where the insect has not been found yet are encouraged to report suspected cases of emerald ash borer to the KDA or KFS .

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