Emerald Ash Borer, or EAB, is a small, metallic-green, invasive wood-boring beetle native to east Asia that attacks and kills ash trees. Adult beetles live on the outside of trees and feed on the leaves during the summer months, while the larvae feed on the living plant tissue underneath the bark. The tunneling and feeding activity of the larvae is what ultimately kills trees. EAB attacks trees of any size, age, or stage of health, and trees can die within two years of infestation.

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 It was discovered in Iowa in 2010 on in island in the Mississippi River near the town of New Albin. Since then, the beetle has moved westward through the state, and new infestations have been found on an ongoing basis. People are responsible for its spread, which is caused by the inadvertent movement of infested firewood, ash nursery stock, and other ash items. Early inventory data indicates that there are roughly 52 million woodland ash trees and 3.1 million community ash trees in Iowa. As ash is one of the most commonly planted street trees in the state, EAB will have a huge impact on the forest resources of cities and towns throughout.

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