Emerald Ash Borer: It is in Iowa. Now what?
Iowa State University Extension
The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a small beetle that kills all species of ash trees, including green, white, black and blue. This federally regulated insect has been found in four Iowa counties and has the potential to spread across the state. There will be two informational meetings concerning the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB), an exotic, destructive insect of ash trees, which is spreading in Iowa.
The meetings will be held January 14, 2014 at the Mahaska County Extension Office,
212 North I Street, Oskaloosa. Meetings are FREE and no registration is required. If you have questions, call ISU Extension and Outreach Mahaska County at 641-673-5841 visit the website www.extension.iastate.edu/mahaska or email striegel@iastate.edu.
A Green Industry Meeting will be held 1-4 pm and is directed towards professionals in the tree service and landscaping industry.
A Public Meeting will be held 6:30-8 pm and is directed towards homeowners and other concerned citizens.
Attendees will learn how to identify EAB, how to identify an ash tree, signs of EAB infestation, if the tree is safe, if a tree is a candidate for treatment, EAB treatment Options, how the spread of EAB is being restricted, bark peeling—how to find EAB in Tree (Green Industry) and Ash Tree replacement options (Public meeting).
EAB was first discovered in Iowa in May 2010 when an infestation was reported in Allamakee County. The beetle this year was also positively identified in Des Moines County in July, Jefferson County in August, Cedar County in October, and Union county in December. Twenty five counties in Iowa are now quarantined. The regional quarantine is designed to prevent the spread of this insect.
The meetings will be presented by a panel of Experts: Nick Witt Oskaloosa City Forester; Ben Hoskinson Mahaska County Integrated Roadside Vegetation Manager; Jeremy Cochran Iowa Department of Natural Resources District Forester; Mike Kintner EAB Outreach and Regulatory Coordinator with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship; Mark Shour Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Entomologist.
