| (CDT) Preliminary results of the state’s effort to track the destructive emerald ash borer resulted in a pending positive identification of the wood-boring beetle in Centre Co., according to the state Department of Agriculture website. The results from this year’s samples are still being processed, including awaiting verification from the US Department of Agriculture. Walt Blosser, state plant regulatory official, said once the office has confirmation of the results of this year’s surveys the state’s firewood quarantine may be expanded. The beetle was first found in the United States in 2002 in Michigan. It is native to China & is thought to have been brought into North America on shipping crates. It only takes the shiny, dark green beetles about 3-5 years to kill ash trees used for landscaping, baseball bats & lumber. Mifflin Co. has been under the quarantine for well over a year. |