Emerald_Ash_Borer_adult_beetle

My husband and I have a wood burner so we are very conscious of where we get the wood we burn.  We found that there are certain counties in Wisconsin that won't allow the transport of wood across county lines due to gypsy moths and the Emerald Ash Borer beetle.  The City of Superior is surveying the situation and considering a release of a bio-control agent.

If you remember, it was 2013 that the City of Superior first confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in the city's north end, resulting in Douglas County being quarantined.

That permitted you from taking firewood from Douglas County to non-quarantine counties, which left my husband and I scrambling for wood that year.  It meant even more work for businesses because they had to begin working with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to ensure that their products were pest-free before shipping.

What is a bio-control agent?  Sounds scary doesn't it.  Basically, it's bringing in one species that eats another species to control or reduce the spread of the latter.  In this particular instance, it's a wasp that doesn't sting, but will attack the Emerald Ash Borer's larva in the trees.  I hope that helps!  So, if you see people in and around the Superior Municipal forest this Saturday, it's volunteers looking for signs of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Property owners who are concerned about trees on private property should take these measures:

  • Visit www.emeraldashborer.wi.gov for detailed information.
  • Contact the University of Wisconsin Horticulture and Agriculture Educator at 715-395-1515 with questions.
  • Consult a professional arborist for expert advice.
  • Consider planting different species of trees that are not susceptible to EAB.

 

 

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