Howard County Trees Quarantined Following Discovery of Insect Pest

Remember those "Stop the Beetle" billboards on Route 1 at Buttermilk Hill in Elkridge?

The beetle that spawned the campaign—the emerald ash borer—has made its way to Howard County, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Native to Asia, this destructive insect poses a threat to ash trees, which make up about 10 percent of the local tree population. Its larvae dig tunnels under the bark and cut off nutrients, killing the trees.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, the emerald ash borer first appeared in Michigan in 2002. The insect is now found in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland and most recently Pennsylvania. It has destroyed more than 20 million trees in other states, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Because the bugs can't fly more than half a mile, experts believe it is humans who have expanded the insects' reach by transporting firewood containing the larvae.

Since appearing in Southern Maryland a few years ago, the emerald ash borer has been creeping toward Baltimore. This week, the Sun reported that the bug has been detected in three Howard County locations: Dorsey Run Business Park (8620 Old Dorsey Run Rd.) near Savage, Owen Brown Village Center (6800 Cradlerock Way) in Columbia, and in the northwestern part of the county.

On Tuesday, the Maryland Department of Agriculture expanded a quarantine, effectively prohibiting the transport of ash and hardwood out of Howard, Prince George's and Charles County.

The good news is that the emerald ash borer can be controlled by a parasitic wasp.

If you notice any signs of the emerald ash borer in Howard County, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5920.