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Apr 1, 2007 4:09 pm US/Eastern
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Maryland Trees Destroyed As Chinese Beetles Chew
by Meteorologist Tim Williams
(WJZ)
A non-native bug continues to cause major problems for Maryland.
As
Tim Williams reports, small bugs known as Emerald ash borers, are destroying thousands of trees in Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Agriculture has been monitoring the tiny critters for years but the problem is persisting.
In Prince George's County alone, officials say 20,000 trees are in the process of being destroyed in hopes of getting rid of the bugs also known as Chinese beetles.
The exotic and invasive beetle arrived aboard saplings shipped to Maryland in 2003 from Michigan. It was re-discovered last August.
Agriculture officials say they are trying to eliminate the ash tree food source in southern P.G. County before the beetle spreads. The goal is to then quarantine any fire wood leaving the area.
In some states the Emerald ash borers are causing even bigger headaches. Michigan, Ohio and Indiana are noted as having the worst problems in the country.
The unwelcome visitors were also just discovered in Illinois last year.
Experts say time is of the essence because the beetles that are not killed now will begin to mature and fly off to find new trees.
About 10 percent of the street trees in Baltimore are ash trees plus another three percent in the surrounding woods.
All in all the damage is estimated at reaching up to $300 million in this area alone.
Click here for more information on the Emerald ash borer.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)