Invasive emerald ash borer spreads to another Nebraska county

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Hamilton County in central Nebraska.

The Nebraska Forest Service announced the discovery in the June edition of the Nebraska Forest Health Report, published on Tuesday.

Evidence of the invasive species was found in ash trees in Aurora and along Beaver Creek, according to the forest service.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 15 counties across Nebraska confirm infestation of emerald ash borer

The borer is now confirmed to be in 16 of Nebraska’s 93 counties, mostly in the eastern part of the state.

The forest service said it continues to investigate unconfirmed reports in other counties.

Courtesy: Nebraska Forest Service

The emerald ash borer is a beetle native to Asia.

Since it was introduced in the U.S. in 2002, it has killed tens of millions of ash trees in more than 25 states, according to the forest service.

Experts estimate that 44 million trees in Nebraska will die in the coming years because of the insect.