Emerald Ash Borer in Mifflin County

Folks,

Disturbing news. Emerald ash borer has been discovered in Mifflin County. To quote Don Eggen, Forest health manager for the DCNR Bureau of Forestry “Emerald ash borer has been discovered in Central Pennsylvania in Mifflin County. The infestation has most likely been there for several years. We will be coordinating our DCNR efforts with the PA Emerald Ash Borer Task Force. The infestation was reported by a landowner who sent digital photos to our Pennsylvania badbug@state.pa.us email address. The infestation was confirmed after a site visit by PA Dept. of Ag and DCNR Div. of Forest Pest Management staff last week. I think this highlights the importance of public outreach and education”

Greg Hoover of the Dept. of Entomology, College of Ag Sciences reports, “I’ve been told that an EAB Extension training session conducted for master gardeners in Mifflin County resulted in one of the master gardeners in attendance placing the EAB information at the training session on their blog. A Mifflin County resident saw the EAB information on this master gardener’s blog and then contacted authorities. I think this indeed highlights the importance of Penn State Cooperative Extension, public outreach and education.”

You folks are on the front line in not only this effort with EAB but others as well. Don’t hesitate to contact your local DCNR Bureau of Forestry office, Regional Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture office, or County Extension office if you suspect you have seen this critter, D-shaped exit holes or other suspicious characteristics. You may also send photos to the above email. I would just as soon make a trip to look at a suspicious tree that turned out not to be EAB than to have you not call me. I know the DCNR and other Extension folks feel the same way! Please keep a look out, especially for "D" shaped exit holes. For more information visit the Bradford County Extension website and scroll down to the photo of the emerald ash borer, clicking on that photo will take you to an "EAB" informational site. Mifflin County has been added to the quarantine list along with Mercer, Beaver, Lawrence, Butler and Allegheny Counties.