Emerald ash borer confirmed in Butler County

Emerald ash borer has been detected in Butler County, putting the total number of impacted Iowa counties at 51, state officials announced late last month.

Ash borer was detected in a residential tree in Clarksville, according to a June 29 news release from Iowa State University Extension.

Earlier in June, officials said the invasive species had spread to more than half of Iowa counties with discoveries in Benton, Buena Vista, Floyd, Howard and Warren counties.

The beetle, which destroys ash trees, is most frequently spread by the transport of infested firewood.

Emerald ash borer larva feed on the inner layer of ash tree bark, starving the tree and killing it within two to four years.

Officials recommend residents buy local firewood and avoid moving it outside the area to prevent transportation of the destructive pest.

Emerald ash borer is native to Asia and was introduced to the United States in 2002. It spread to Linn County in 2015 and Johnson County in 2016.

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