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Emerald Ash Borer Creeps Towards Connecticut

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (Creative Commons)

http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Tucker/Morning%20Edition%2007-10-2012.mp3

Connecticut's Ash Trees have been spared infestation from an invasive insect so far this summer. But trees along the New York border with Connecticut haven't been as lucky.

The emerald ash borer, a small green metallic looking beetle was discovered in May in Rhinebeck New York, just 25 miles from the Connecticut border. The beetle is native to Asia, and feeds exclusively on the Ash Tree. According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Forestry Division's Christopher Martin, the bug kills the tree by depriving it of nutrients.

"It basically lives just underneath the bark in the wood where all the nutrients and water flow up and down the tree," said Martin. "It slowly strangulates the tree by cutting off its supply."

Martin says the DEEP and the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station have stepped up monitoring of the emerald ash borer by setting hundreds of large purple traps known as "Barney Traps" throughout the state. So far there are no signs of the emerald ash borer. DEEP is urging residents to use only local wood for firewood, and never bring firewood home from out of state, which can inadvertently spread the beetle to unaffected areas.

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Ray Hardman is Connecticut Public’s Arts and Culture Reporter. He is the host of CPTV’s Emmy-nominated original series Where Art Thou? Listeners to Connecticut Public Radio may know Ray as the local voice of Morning Edition, and later of All Things Considered.

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