Ash Borer is found in another Neb. county

LINCOLN — The destructive emerald ash borer has been detected in two more Nebraska counties — Lincoln County, home of North Platte, and in the Shubert area of Nemaha County.

That makes 12 counties, mostly in eastern Nebraska, where the invasive beetle has been detected, according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Emerald ash borers, which attack and kill ash trees, were first discovered in Nebraska in 2016.

Counties where ash borers have been confirmed, besides the two new ones, are: Cass, Buffalo, Dodge, Platte, Douglas, Hall, Lancaster, Sarpy, Seward, and Washington.

Infested ash trees will show thinning or dying branches in the top of the tree, S-shaped larval galleries under bark, D-shaped exit holes and suckers along the trunk and main branches.

While its difficult to stop the spread of the borer, state entomologist Natalia Bjorklund offered these suggestions to avoid human-assisted spread of the insect: Use locally sourced firewood, burning it in the same county where you purchased it. The emerald ash borer can easily be moved in firewood.

Consider treating healthy, high-value ash trees located within a 15-mile radius of a known infestation.

Continually reapply treatment, which will only prolong the tree’s life, not save it.