The emerald ash borer sure loves campgrounds, and it found a lovely one in Missouri.
Missouri has been free of emerald ash borer infestations, until now. A trap set by the USDA has caught a bunch of the devastating little green bugs near a campground in Missouri.
Reading through the news reports and blogs (here, here, here, and here) I realized this is probably not a small infestation. That means eradication is highly unlikely.
A quick cross-reference from www.emeraldashborer.info to Google Maps allowed me to create this nice tidbit; the nearest known EAB infestation to this new one in Missouri is 317 miles away. An adult borer can only fly roughly a mile, according to most estimates. So how did these little bugs travel all the way there? I think the professionals on the ground phrased it best...
“The discovery of this highly destructive pest at a campground is a strong indication that it probably arrived in firewood,” said Conservation Department Forest Entomologist Rob Lawrence. “If people knew how devastating this insect can be, they would never consider bringing firewood from out of state.” (emphasis added)
From the Missouri Department of Conservation press release
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