Learn About Emerald Ash Borer Threat During Monday Program In Doylestown

Doylestown Borough's Shade Tree Commission is hosting an informational seminar on the Emerald Ash Borer this Monday, Oct. 3. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Doylestown Borough Hall.

According to local officials, "the Emerald Ash Borer has already threatened millions of Ash trees in North America will affect a significant portion of our Ash tress here in Doylestown Borough."

The seminar is intended to educate residents on how it could impact their trees. Several local communities have reported the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer. In May, a salvage harvest was announced at Tyler State Park in Newtown after the beetle threatened trees there.

The emerald ash borer is an exotic beetle that was first discovered in southeastern Michigan in the summer of 2002. It has since been found in 25 states and killed tens of millions of ash trees.

The insect likely arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material carried in cargo ships or airplanes originating in its native Asia, according to experts.

The adult emerald ash borer is a metallic green insectthat's about one-half inch long and one-eighth inch wide making it hard to detect in the wild, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture explains on its website.

"The female beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae bore into the bark to the fluid-conducting vessels underneath. The larvae feed and develop, cutting off the flow of nutrients and, eventually killing the tree. EAB attacks and kills North American species of true ash, and tree death occurs three to five years following initial infestation."

PHOTO: EAB via N.J. Department of Agriculture website