For the first time, the emerald ash borer has been detected in Missouri, as well as in Wisconsin. The adult borer doesn’t cause much harm to trees, but in larvae form, it’s a whole different story. The borer larvae consume the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting their vascular systems and causing them to dehydrate and starve. The bug is believed to have arrived in the United States after stowing away in wooden shipping crates from Asia. The EAB now has been detected in 10 Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic states, plus two Canadian provinces. State and federal officials are anxious to prevent it from spreading (warning: opens PDF map) to others. There’s a multi-state effort in place to fight the good fight.
