Central PA, Heavily Planted In Ash After Dutch Elm Disease Struck, Awaits Emerald Ash Borer Arrival

[hatrack]

A lot of towns in central Pennsylvania have ash trees lining the streets, planted to replace the elms that Dutch elm disease wiped out decades ago.

But now, a threat that targets ash trees is afoot in Pennsylvania, according to Kim Abbey, commercial horticulture educator with York County's Penn State Cooperative Extension. It's an Asian insect called the emerald ash borer.

The beetle's larvae feed on the tissues under the bark of ash trees, of which they've killed tens of millions since showing up in Michigan in 2002.

By 2007, they'd made their way to Butler County in western Pennsylvania. In February, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, they were discovered as far east as Mifflin County, about 90 miles northwest of York.

EDIT

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_12128376

[villager]

1. Good ol' monocultures!

When will they ever learn?

[Muttocracy]

2. well, the pallets and shipping crates from China have done a lot of this damage

and moving trees around via nurseries.

Ash is common in places, but I wouldn't call it a monoculture.

Local foresters here are expecting it in NY any moment and just preparing to start cutting down the ash trees as it's found.

[villager]

4. I guess I was thinking of using a single kind of tree to plant everywhere

...rather than mixed species...

But yes, good point about the shipping as well...

[Muttocracy]

5. yeah, and the Dutch elm disease should have taught us a lesson...

for such smart critters, humans are awful slow!

[Muttocracy]

3. Sites with info - and DON'T MOVE FIREWOOD!!!

http://www.emeraldashborer.info/

http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=144707&PM=1

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/emerald_ash_borer/emerald_ash_borer.shtml