Emerald Ash Borer found near Mt. Pleasant

Iowa now has ten counties infested with Emerald Ash Borer after larva found in Mt. Pleasant has been positively identified as the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) by a federal identifier.  

"EAB typically has a one-year lifecycle but in colder climates, it can take as long as two-years," said State Entomologist Robin Pruisner of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  "Finding an EAB larva in July is proof that there is no 'safe time' for moving firewood in Iowa. No matter the time of year, the risk of EAB being transported in firewood is very real."

A statewide quarantine restricting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock out of Iowa into non-quarantined areas of other states remains in effect.

The Iowa EAB Team strongly cautions Iowans not to transport firewood across county or state lines, since the movement of firewood throughout Iowa or to other states increases the risk of spreading EAB infestations. Most EAB infestations in the United States have been started by people unknowingly transporting infested firewood, nursery plants or sawmill logs.