Scientists have found an invasive, tree-eating beetle in far northeastern Oklahoma, and the ash trees headed to a Spavinaw lumber yard are at risk from the pesky insect.
Johnson Lumber Co. owner Darren Johnson told The Journal Record’s Brian Brus he hasn’t seen any damage yet, but he’s still hoping for a hard winter to slow down the emerald ash borer beetle.
A single sample of the beetle was found recently in a borer trap in Delaware County, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture urban forester Mark Bays said. Given the movements of the bug through other parts of the country, entomologists were expecting it in Oklahoma soon enough – thus, the trap – but they didn’t foresee the borer showing up so far north of Arkansas, he said. Vector theories include storm winds or birds dropping the beetle out of its range, but the most likely is that it was carried on firewood from a camping trip over the state line, he said. The department is now looking at a new public education campaign to remind people to leave wood where it’s found.
The bug, which looks like a varnished grasshopper with stunted legs, has never been found in Oklahoma before. So far it’s chewed through hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America, and scientists expected to see the beetle eventually.
Studies have shown that when invasive species win new territory, they displace the natives and the ecosystem loses diversity in plants and wildlife. What was a thriving habitat becomes more barren. If the beetle does get established in Oklahoma, the total impact to lumber operations should be minimal, Johnson said. He works mostly with oak, so he’s not particularly worried. Still, though, any disruption in business deserves his attention, and it’s always possible the insect’s offspring could mutate to new tastes.
Oklahoma is home to other non-native invaders, like feral hogs, kudzu, zebra mussels and Old World bluestem grasses.
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