Adult emerald ash borers (EAB) began emerging in Oregon last month, with the majority appearing in July. About the size of a penny, adults are often difficult to spot and primarily found in traps. The Oregon Department of Forestry urges anyone who thinks they’ve seen one to confirm it’s not a lookalike bug.
“You can find a good description and photos comparing EAB to other common insects in Oregon that are also green in color at OregonEAB.com,” said ODF EAB Specialist Kat Bethea.
Capturing the insect in a jar or taking a clear, close-up photo helps with identification. Suspected EAB should be reported to 1-866-INVADER or oregoninvasiveshotline.org/reports/create, with a clear photo encouraged.
Any ash tree, including native and non-native varieties, can be infested. Signs of infestation include thinning leaves, bark splitting, D-shaped holes, and basal shoots, according to Bethea.
This small, metallic-green beetle, native to eastern Asia, was first found in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002 and has killed tens of millions of ash trees.
