An invasive insect, the emerald ash borer or EAB, has been confirmed in Washington County. The metallic green beetle was found in Brighton after a homeowner alerted the Iowa EAB Team about an ash tree showing symptoms related to EAB. Insect specimens were then collected and sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Maryland where it was confirmed. Iowa now has 34 confirmed counties with EAB, including Washington and Van Buren, which were added this week.

The native insect of Asia was first detected in Iowa in 2010 and is responsible for the death of tens of millions of ash trees in the 27 states it has been detected. To help stop the spread of EAB, use locally sourced firewood by burning it in the same county where it was purchased.