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Ash Tree Quarantine Extended to Loudoun

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By Chris Jenkins

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

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A state quarantine on ash trees and products made from them was expanded yesterday to several Northern Virginia localities in response to the infestation of 40 Fairfax County trees by an Asian beetle.

Last week, a quarantine was issued for the county after the emerald ash borer was found in trees in Herndon and Newington. Yesterday, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services added Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties to the quarantine, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park to the list. The order prohibits any movement of ash trees, untreated ash lumber products and hardwood firewood outside of the quarantined area.

In a statement, Virginia officials said new evidence has found that the beetles, metallic green in appearance, can fly up to one mile at a time and can take multiple flights, potentially resulting in infestations at least 10 to 20 miles from the original infestation. Since its discovery in 2002, the beetle has been blamed for the deaths of 40 million ash trees from Michigan to Maryland.

Tagged: animals, Northern Virginia

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