Ashland, Richland, Summit, Greene and Morrow Counties were all added to the quarantine, which helps slow the spread of the ash tree-killing insect by prohibiting the movement of all hardwood firewood and ash tree materials.
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials confirmed the positive identification of specimens collected in each of the counties. The Morrow County specimen was obtained following a tip from a U.S. Department of Agriculture employee who spotted Ash Borer larva in a test trap near the intersection of C.R. 25 and US 42, approximately one mile west of Cardington. This is the first known infestation in Morrow County.
Cardington has less than one hundred ash trees that are publicly maintained. Those ash trees are primarily located along Gilead St in the street-tree lawn and in the Glendale Cemetary. Ash trees are known to exist in various locations around the Village on private property as well.
Since Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in Ohio in 2003, the department has placed 50 counties under quarantine. The quarantined areas can do so only with a department-approved compliance agreement. These agreements stipulate handling practices that mitigate the artificial spread of Emerald Ash Borer. Ohio's quarantine map is also available at the department's web site. Violators of this quarantine may face fines up to $4000. Due to a federal quarantine, it is also illegal to take these items from the state of Ohio.
Firewood dealers, businesses, or woodlot owners interested in marketing and transporting ash trees or firewood from quarantined areas can do so only with a department-approved compliance agreement. These agreements stipulate handling practices that mitigate the artificial spread of Emerald Ash Borer.
Ash trees infested with Emerald Ash Borer typically die within five years. The pest belongs to a group of metallic wood-boring beetles. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length, one-eighth inch wide, and fly from early May until Spetember. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees and leave D-shaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide when they emerge as adults.