Ash trees at risk: Pest spreads to 3 more counties

HUGO The Emerald Ash Borer has been identified in three more southeastern Oklahoma counties: McCurtain, Choctaw and Carter, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry announced.

The Emerald Ash Borer is capable of killing all species of ash trees. The insect was first confirmed in Oklahoma in Delaware County in 2016.

“The insect lays eggs in the cracks of ash trees. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the tree and eat the inner bark,” the department said in a news release. “The insect is singlehandedly responsible for the nation's ash tree decline in recent years, killing tens of millions of trees.”

The pest has spread to 35 states, killing millions of ash trees and costing municipalities, property owners, nursery operators, and forest products industries tens of millions of dollars.

“The most effective way to combat a highly invasive and fast-spreading pest is to slow the spread as best we can. This is done through chemical and biological controls as well as by continuing to urge people to NOT MOVE FIREWOOD. Buy it where you burn it,” the department said in the release.

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