When people travel between countries, they are limited as to what they can transport across borders. In many cases, this is because certain living things will damage the ecosystem of an environment if it is brought into the area. If an animal or insect is released into the wild into an ecosystem where it is not a native, it can wreak havoc and kill of existing wild and plant life. This is the case with the Emerald Ash Borer beetle. It is believed that this beetle entered the United States around the turn of the 21st century and that it was brought in with packing materials sent from Asia.
The ash borer beetle causes little damage once it is fully grown, but in its larvae state, it lives inside of trees and inhibits the trees ability to nourish itself, eventually resulting in the death of the tree. It is estimated that the ash borer has been responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of trees in the upper Midwest, as well as states on the East Coast, up into New England, and into Canada.
Due to the damage the beetle has caused, many state governments have imposed fines for moving firewood from different locations. It is believed that moving firewood is the most common way the ash borer beetle spreads. Many areas have posted billboards in an effort to get the message out about transferring wood between areas, encouraging people to learn about the dangers of the beetle. People in industries affected by the ash borer believe the damage has cost them tens of millions of dollars.
The beetle is easily spotted because of its dark green color. It has a metallic look to it and is about a third of an inch in length, with black eyes. The larvae, which cause the majority of the damage to the trees, are a creamy white color and usually less than an inch long. The beetles lay their eggs in the tree bark and then the larvae burrow in further before hatching. They eat the cambium and phloem in the bark which usually causes the tree to die with two years. The most active season for the ash borer is during early spring when females can lay up to 300 eggs. The ash borer lives anywhere from one to two years, depending on how cold the climate is.
There are several things people can do to avoid Emerald Ash Borer problems. The first, of course, is using firewood from the campsite you choose. Do not purchase firewood near your home and drive it into the camp, and do not bring leftover firewood back with you from camping to use at home. Before purchasing wood, inspect it to make sure there are no signs of the ash borer or its eggs. The wood will appear damaged if eggs exist in the tree. If you find a tree that is infested, there are ways to treat it. Treating it to kill off the larvae as soon as possible is very important so no further damage or infestation occurs. If you have trees on your property, know the signs of an infestation. Ash borers favor ash trees, so if you own any, you may want to have a professional inspect the tree just to be safe.
Author Resource:-
Stewart Wrighter is an expert in the field of exterminating and contributes articles about the benefits of using Sentricon and the Sentricon system for eliminating termites from a structure.
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