Is Emerald Ash Borer Infesting Trees in Southern NH?

From UNH Cooperative Extension:

Kyle Lombard, a forest health specialist with the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, was recently scouting for emerald ash borer in Salem when a neighbor across the state border showed him his trees, which were "loaded with EAB."

The significant infestation within a hundred feet of New Hampshire is an indicator the emerald ash borer is in southern New Hampshire, or possibly on its way.

"Even though we haven’t found emerald ash borer in southern Rockingham and Hillsborough counties, there is a high probability it is in this part of New Hampshire," Piera Siegert, state entomologist with the N.H. Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food, says in a press release.

If the insect is found, state officials will take action and impose a quarantine on the movement of ash wood products and hardwood firewood in the affected counties.

Until then, the state is asking for voluntary help and cooperation.

"The number one way emerald ash borer is spread is by people moving firewood. We’re asking firewood sellers to sell their wood as locally as possible and for homeowners to buy it as locally as possible, especially when they go camping. 
We’re asking people not to bring campfire wood from home. Buy it near the campground," Siegert says.

People who see suspect trees can report the potential emerald ash borer to www.nhbugs.org or by calling (800) 444-8978.

Since EAB only infests white, black or green ash, people need to only look at their ash trees for signs by looking for "blonding." Blonding is caused when woodpeckers forage on ash trees looking for the EAB. They scratch away the outer bark, leaving lighter-colored bark on the tree.

"People with declining or dead ash can really help us by reporting their tree and letting us sample it," says Lombard. 

Siegert agrees, "Emerald ash borer is a very difficult insect to detect. If it was easy to see, people wouldn’t move it like they do."

Homeowners in Rockingham and Hillsborough counties especially should be looking at their trees.

The NHbugs website shows a revised map with the known infestations (See map attached). The new map shows all or parts of Hudson, Pelham, Londonderry, Windham, Salem, Derry, Hampstead, Atkinson, Plaistow, Sandown, Danville, Kingston and Newton are within 10 miles of the known infestation.

Emerald ash borer resources: 

Invasive Insect Reporting Form http://nhbugs.org/invasive-insect-reporting-form