Beetle eating away at Coshocton County ash trees

COSHOCTON – There is a non-native beetle species that is infecting ash trees not only in Coshocton County but throughout Ohio and the Midwest.

That emerald ash borer, a half inch-long, metallic green-colored beetle, was confirmed in Coshocton in December 2013, said Emily Adams, agriculture and natural resources educator at the Ohio State University Extension in Coshocton County.

The species, which was brought over from Asia, eats away at the transport system of the ash trees, preventing them from moving the nutrients they need to the top of the tree. That will eventually kill the tree, as it has a two- to four-year life span after being infected.

Several of the trees in the parking lot of Buehler's Grocery store are exhibiting symptoms and have signs next to them explaining what they are.

"It's not just a Coshocton County problem. This is very widespread, beyond Ohio as well. It's a regional problem," Adams said.

The symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation include small D-shaped holes in the tree that are about one-eighth of an inch in size, shoots coming up from the base of the tree, heavy woodpecker activity and the top of the tree losing leaves.

There are ways to deal with the beetles after they attack, but those efforts include diligent insecticide use, Adams said.

"If it hasn't been affected much, there are insecticides that can help," she said. "It's whether or not the owner wants to use insecticides for a long time or harvest the tree and plant a new species."

If a homeowner plants a new species of tree in the same space, there is no worry at this time of that tree being infested, and there also is no danger to animals or children that play in the area, Adams said.

"They won't even affect other types of trees," she said.

cteaguerob@gannett.com

740-295-3442

Twitter: @cj_teague