As the ever-expanding spread of the invasive beetle known as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) nears northern Wisconsin, local officials have begun taking action. Plans to deal with the spread of the insect and how urban areas will handle the potentially rapid death of city tree cover are becoming a topic for discussion.
EAB were first found in southern Wisconsin in 2008. The infestation rapidly spread, with 37 counties quarantined by 2014. In less than seven years after discovering the invasive insect, more than half of Wisconsin's 72 counties have been infested and lost tremendous numbers of ash trees.
EAB kill ash trees by feeding on the inner bark of the tree, where it is very difficult to initially detect. This prevents the tree from absorbing water and nutrients, causing the tree to eventually starve and die. It is estimated to take between two to four years between arrival of the insect and death of the tree.
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