Evansville arborist predicts emerald ash borer is imminenet

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - Gibson and Vanderburgh counties in southwestern Indiana are the only Indiana counties where the emerald ash borer hasn't been found yet, but the Evansville city arborist predicts that will change soon.

Arborist Shawn Dickerson tells the Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/1Phc4cZ ) he expects the invasive bug that destroys ash trees to hit that area this year.

The emerald ash borer, originally from China, has killed millions of ash trees nationwide since being discovered in Michigan in 2002. It's often spread by people transporting firewood.

Evansville has about 12,000 trees, not including the 3,000 acres of forest areas. About 7 percent of the city's trees are ash trees.

Dickerson says the city is asking people to be proactive and to remove their trees or treat them.

___

Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com