An invasive species of beetle that has killed millions of ash trees has quickly spread through North Carolina and now has been found in 60 of 100 counties in North Carolina. 

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) first started ravaging the hardwood trees around the state in 2013, and in 2015 it was detected in Wake, Durham and Orange counties.

In Orange County, for instance, “Most ash trees in Orange County are already infested or will be infested soon,” said North Carolina State University Assistant Professor Kelly Oten.

The emerald ash borer is a metallic green beetle that bores into ash trees feeding on tissues beneath the bark, ultimately killing the tree. It is not native to the United States and was first found in the U.S. near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. EAB is now found in many of the Midwestern and eastern states and has already killed tens of millions of ash trees.

Adult beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees. When the eggs hatch, the larvae (immature beetles) bore into the bark and feed on the transportation tissues of the tree. This disrupts the movement of nutrients and water within the tree, girdling it and causing tree death.

Emerald ash borer attacks all species of ash native to the United States as well as native white fringetree. The four species of ash native to North Carolina include white ash, green ash, Carolina ash, and pumpkin ash. Both healthy and unhealthy trees can be attacked. In 2014, EAB specimens were found infesting white fringetree (aka Old Man’s Beard) in Ohio.  Subsequent surveys indicated this was a widespread phenomenon.  Mountain ash, which is not considered a true ash, is not susceptible to EAB. 

The beetle is native to parts of Asia, specifically China, Japan, Korea, and parts of eastern Russia. It is believed to have been transported to the United States in wood packing materials made of ash.

The emerald ash borer was first found in the U.S. in June 2002, near Detroit, Michigan. Since then, it has spread to many central and eastern U.S. states and parts of eastern Canada. In 2013, the emerald ash borer was found in Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren counties in North Carolina.  In 2015, it was found in many additional counties.  The NC Forest Service tracks its movements and its current range in NC is continually updated.