May 1, 4:16 PM EDT
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USDA: Devastating Tree Beetle To Spread Across U.S.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- An exotic beetle that destroys ash trees could
spread from the Great Lakes states across the east-central United States
within the next two decades, officials with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture said Tuesday.

The beetle has already infested 1,256 cities and townships in Michigan,
Indiana, Illinois and Ohio, said Philip Bell, the USDA's animal and
plant health inspection regional manager for the emerald ash borer. By
2027, it could spread as far south as North Carolina and as far west as
Minnesota.

Bell told the state Senate's environmental committee and Assembly's
forestry committee the USDA hopes to contain the beetle in the Great
Lakes states by raising awareness, sampling trees to detect the creature
as early as possible and gaining a better understanding of how the
beetle can move through man-made paths.

Jane Cummings Carlson, coordinator of forest health protection for the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, outlined options the agency
has in the event the beetle is found in the state, such as preserving
ash tree seeds to replant them. The agency hopes researchers can
identify ash trees that can resist the beetle, she said.

Kathy Pielsticker, administrator of the Division of Agricultural
Resource Management at the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection, warned the committees the beetle could destroy all
of the 717 million ash trees in Wisconsin forests and more than 5
million ash trees along streets, resulting in a loss of up to $4 billion.