"Invasive beetle may have spread to ash trees
The emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that has beleaguered 18 other states including Massachusetts and Connecticut, might now be in New Hampshire. State entomologist Piera Siegert said Friday that a tree in the Concord-area is showing signs of stress indicative of the beetle’s presence. She also discovered what she believes is ash borer larvae, but a federal specialist must confirm her findings. The emerald ash borer, originally from China, has killed millions of ash trees nationwide since being discovered in Michigan in 2002. It’s often spread by people transporting firewood. If the beetle’s presence is confirmed, limits may be placed on the removal of ash logs and firewood from a designated area."
"Emerald ash borer shows up in park
The destructive wood boring insect known as the emerald ash borer has been found in a Fairfield County park. The discovery will lead to a quarantine of firewood in Fairfield County, with no ash logs, ash materials, ash nursery stock, or hardwood firewood permitted to be trucked from the county. The News-Times of Danbury reported that Sherman’s first selectman, Clay Cope, said he has been informed about the ash borer’s presence and the town will cooperate to stop the spread of the insect. Thomas Worthley, a forester with the University of Connecticut Extension Service said efforts cannot halt the ash borer, but may slow its spread. The borer also has been found in Dutchess and Putnam counties in New York and Berkshire County in Massachusetts."
"Wasps may lead scientists to harmful beetle
University of Rhode Island researchers are using wasps to help them search for an invasive beetle that kills ash trees. The emerald ash borer has been found in Massachusetts and Connecticut, but so far there is no evidence that the beetle is in Rhode Island. In an attempt to spot the insects before they get a foothold, the URI research team is focusing on a type of wasp that is known to prey on similar beetles. The team will capture wasps as they return to their nest to see if they are carrying emerald ash borers to feed to their young."
