Emerald Ash Borer Found in Another Ohio County

State agriculture officials announced this morning that they discovered evidence of emerald ash borers in Delaware County, the first sighting in central Ohio since the invasive insect was eradicated in Frankin County last year.

The insect was discovered in a condominium complex in Delaware County. Officials say they suspect it was brought there in infested firewood.

The Asian bug probably hitched a ride to the United States in wooden packing crates from China. They were first discovered in the Detroit area in 2002.

It has killed or infested 15 million trees in the state. In Ohio, about 200,000 ash trees have been destroyed, most chopped by crews trying to slow the beetle's spread.

The borer embeds itself within ash wood, gnawing at vital layers beneath the surface and cutting off the tree's nourishment. It eventually makes its way out of the tree and flies about a half-mile a year in search of another food source.

That's why cutting down trees in outlying areas is so important.

The federal government spent $3.8 million to fight the emerald ash borer in Ohio last year. The state has requested $11.6 million for 2005.