The Chattanooga Department of Public Works is partnering with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Division of Forestry to place both purple and green traps in ash trees in 16 selected areas around Chattanooga.
According to City Forester Gene Hyde, “These traps are part of an early warning system which allows us to learn when this destructive pest arrives in our area. At that time we’ll begin administering protective inoculations to prevent our high value ash trees from being killed.”
The Emerald Ash Borer is native to the orient and was first detected in Detroit in 2002. The insect has been blamed on the deaths of over 50 million ash trees in the American Midwest and threatens the health of over seven billion ash trees in North America. Only ash trees are affected by the pest. Both the purple and green traps are detection devices that lure in the insect with a chemical pheromone that is harmless to humans and pets. Traps will be checked every three to four weeks throughout the spring and summer.
For additional information call Gene Hyde, city forester, at 423 757-7283.