Emerald Ash Borer has been confirmed in Palo Alto County for the first time.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture collected insect samples last month from an ash tree in the Basswood Recreation Area outside of Emmetsburg. Department staff noticed woodpecker damage in an ash tree, which is a symptom of an EAB infestation. The sample was then submitted to the USDA for analysis, and test results confirmed the presence of EAB.
Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native, wood-boring insect that threatens all species of ash trees. With the detection in Palo Alto, Emmet County is now the only remaining county in Iowa without an EAB detection. Landowners with ash trees on their property should begin to consider a course of action for at-risk trees, which are generally those within a 15-mile radius of a known infestation.
