By Jeff Patrus
Staff Writer
Melissa Powers left no worm unturned in her search for the Emerald Ash Borer in Brandon Township.
Powers, a crew leader with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, and her team of about 12 workers spent about a week searching in the township for the insect, which was discovered in the state of Michigan last year.
On Monday, July 21, the crew, using Global Satellite Positioning technology, came across a tree they suspect may have been infected with the insect. The tree is located near the Brandon Township Library.
Michigan Department of Agriculture spokesman James McRay has confirmed there is a local tree which may been infected by the EAB, but added the state still has to do some additional testing.
‘We did find one in Brandon Township,? McRay said on July 22. He would not disclose where the tree was located within the township.
McRay said there are three specific signs that indicate a tree has been infected:
nThe crown of the tree is starting to die.
nThe bark of the tree is cracking.
nQuarter-inch D-shaped exit holes will be found along the trees.
Powers said the 12 team members, while conducting their search in the township, were divided into six pairs of workers, each of them taking a half-square mile at a time. ‘We run grids to find where the leading edge of infestation is,? she said.
According to the Department of Agriculture’s Web site, the EAB kills ash trees by destroying their water and nutrient conducting vessels. The infected trees may die within two or three years after they are infested with the beetle.
The site also states if a tree owner wishes to save an ash infected with the EAB, they must do so promptly because ash trees may become unsalvagable in just a few months after infection.