There is a small insect that has proven to be devastating to ash and other trees and is spreading across the country. Omaha is ready and has a plan in place to deal with them should the reach the city.
The emerald ash borer is a type of beetle that is native to eastern Asia. It feeds upon various species of ash, often killing entire groups of trees. The recommendation form the Nebraska Forest Service is that any that are prone to attack are treated once the insects have been detected within 15 miles. Sometimes, this can mean that trees are removed altogether. So far, the closest they have come to Omaha is 100 miles away in the state of Iowa.
According to the city’s mayor, since they are still quite a distance away, no healthy trees need to be removed as of yet. Instead, the current plan that has been developed included taking an inventory of susceptible trees that are on city property and removing any that are damaged or dead in parks or playgrounds. A firm that provides printing services can create materials that help the public to identify the borers should they see them and also let them know what to do.
The feasibility of treating trees instead of cutting them down is being investigated to see if it is economical and also effective to prevent the spread of the insect.
