An Asian beetle known for infesting and killing ash trees have been confirmed in three additional south Arkansas counties, Arkansas Plant Board officials have said.
Calhoun, Union and Bradley counties have been added as confirmed sites of the emerald ash borer, State Plant Board spokesman Scott Bray said in a statement Monday afternoon. Other previously confirmed sites include Clark, Columbia, Dallas, Hot Spring, Nevada and Ouachita counties, he said.
The state confirmed through trap findings and Plant Board inspections that the pest has entered these three new counties, Bray said.
The state established an ash quarantine in September 2014 and banned the movement of ash nursery stock; green lumber with bark attached; and any material from an ash tree living, dead, cut or fallen, the board said.
The quarantine started with 25 counties and included areas where the pest had been confirmed and "buffer" counties to prevent the spread of the insect, Bray said. All firewood from any tree is also quarantined to those counties.
Bray said the quarantine has not been changed yet, but could depending on more sightings of the emerald ash borer.
Homeowners who find the Asian beetle or have an ash tree they think has been infested should call the Plant Board at (501) 225-1598 or email eab@aspb.ar.gov.
