The discovery of an emerald ash borer infestation in the Dutchess County
village of Rhinecliff last month has entomologists hopeful they can
control the invasive pest... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas
reports.
About a year ago, forestry experts were monitoring a major infestation
of the destructive emerald ash borer in New York's Hudson Valley after
the Asian beetle was spotted in Ulster County near Kingston. Now the
insect has appeared across the river: foresters believe the new colony
was discovered less than a year after it got established, which is good
news, because normally the bugs can go unnoticed for years.
DEC supervising forester Jeff Rider says the beetles were found in early
spring. Recent sampling has not detected further
infestations. But there's not much of a chance of containing the Emerald
Ash Borer.
Foresters believe the first of these beetles arrived in logs or firewood
as long as five to seven years ago.
Mark Whitmore is a Forest Entomologist in the Department of Natural
Resources at Cornell University - he says that slowing down the spread
is an important part in the strategy of controlling the pest.
Jeff Rider adds plans are being made to quarantine moving ash material
in Dutchess County: he thinks the latest infestation involved adult
insects that crossed the river.
In the short term, the borer can be treated with chemicals and
biological agents. The bug was first found near Detroit in 2002. It has
killed tens of millions of trees in 15 states and two Canadian
provinces.
