Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine

Last October we posted an article on the blog which discussed the emerald ash borer, its current location, the destruction it causes, and how to plan for the future in the face of this destructive pest. Well, the day of reckoning to closer upon us.

Allamakee County is now under a quarantine to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer, which kills ash trees, one of the most popular trees in Iowa. Allamakee is located in far northeastern Iowa along the borders with Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey on Monday issued the quarantine on firewood and ash products, including lumber and bark chips. They can't be moved unless a permit has been issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Department of Agriculture or have been treated to exterminate any pests.

The emerald ash borer was recently discovered on an island in the Mississippi River in Allamakee County. The adult beetles are relatively harmless, but the larvae drill into the trees. A full copy of the quarantine can be read here.

For an action plan of how to deal with the emerald ash borer and for a list of trees that could help diversity your tree population review this article that was written by Dr. Jeff Iles from Iowa State University.

Here is a another link to a bulletin detailing further management options for handling the emerald ash borer.

Finally, a video with information about the emerald ash borer and possible management strategies can be viewed below.

Emerald Ash Borer Management Options from Iowa State University Extension on Vimeo.

Marcus Jones
Graduate Research Assistant