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November 14, 2005
STATE FORESTERS HELPING OHIO LANDOWNERS
HALT SPREAD OF EMERALD ASH BORER
COLUMBUS, OH - Private landowners in northwest Ohio whose trees are facing the threat of emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations may now seek assistance from two state service foresters hired specifically to provide advice on ways to manage woodlots against the invasive insect, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
“We encourage woodland owners in northwest Ohio to take a proactive stance against the spread of EAB,” said Casey Munchel, EAB information forester for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “In many cases, this means selecting and responsibly harvesting ash trees that are likely to become sources of food for the insect.”
These EAB service foresters, who are based in Maumee and Findlay, can develop forest stewardship plans for private landowners with five or more acres that focus on stopping the spread of EAB. By determining the size and number of ash trees that are likely to be infested, landowners can better decide whether or not to initiate a harvest. For more information about this EAB assistance, landowners should call 419-424-5004.
The emerald ash borer is an exotic, invasive insect that attacks native ash trees. It is currently found in Auglaize, Delaware, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio.
The creamy white EAB larvae are 1 inch in length, and eat the live tissue under the bark, killing the tree within three to five years of infestation. The adult insects are a half-inch in length, metallic green and fly from May to September. Notable signs of EAB infestation are small, D-shaped exit holes, and a serpentine patterns under the bark that are packed with sawdust. The National Science Advisory Panel has recommended reducing the number of large diameter ash trees to keep EAB from infesting all ash trees in Ohio.
Approximately 3,700 Ohio landowners benefit from the assistance of ODNR service foresters annually. These service foresters write woodland stewardship plans for nearly 52,000 acres of woodlands every year throughout the state of Ohio.
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