(Cherokee)– Emerald Ash Borer has been detected in Cherokee County for the first time.
The discovery was made after workers in the City of Aurelia noticed S-shaped tunneling under the bark of ash trees. Cherokee is now the 77th county in Iowa where the invasive pest has been found.
EAB is a significant threat to all species of ash trees. The wood-boring pest tunnels just beneath the bark in the vascular tissue, disrupting the transport of water and nutrients. Infested trees usually die within two to four years.
Indicators of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation may include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts shooting from the trunk or main branches, S-shaped galleries under the bark, splitting of bark, woodpecker damage, and eighth-of-an-inch D-shaped exit holes.
If anyone suspects an EAB infestation, they are encouraged to contact the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, ISU Extension and Outreach, or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
(Courtesy Community First Broadcasting station KAYL in Storm Lake)
