01/16/13 Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive species that kills ash trees, has been detected for the first time in Starke County.
In Starke County, EAB was found in North Bend Township, specifically, at the Bass Lake Beach and Campground.
EAB, first detected in Indiana in 2004, has now been found in more than 50 Indiana counties. The primary mode of transport for this pest is through movement of firewood in campgrounds.
Starke County is already included in the 79-county area under the Indiana EAB quarantine. The 13 counties not included in Indiana’s EAB quarantine are all in the southwestern part of the state.
The Indiana EAB quarantine regulates the movement of certain materials such as whole ash trees, ash limbs, untreated ash lumber with the bark attached, and cut firewood of any hardwood species with the bark attached. Moving regulated materials out of the quarantined area requires a compliance agreement from the DNR.
Movement of regulated materials within the quarantined area is not restricted. However, DNR recommends against moving regulated material from April 15 through July, when EAB is emerging and flying to find trees to infest. Moving regulated materials during this time helps spread EAB.
Visitors can bring firewood onto DNR properties if it’s certified by the USDA or DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology, or is free of bark.
An application for a compliance agreement can be filed by contacting the DNR Division of Entomology & Plant Pathology at (317) 232-4120. To view quarantined areas and EAB sightings in Indiana, see dnr.IN.gov/entomolo/5349.htm.
For more information on EAB, or to report an infestation, visit eabindiana.info or call Indiana DNR’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-NO EXOTIC (663-9684). To view the EAB Rule and EAB quarantine declaration visit dnr.IN.gov/entomolo/3443.htm.
