An Adult Emerald Ash Borer. (The Herald/ Submitted Photo)

Great Smoky Mountain Park Resource Managers recently confirmed the Smokies first back country emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation.

“The emerald ash borer is two and one-half inch-long metallic green beetle that lays eggs on the bark on all species of ash trees,” explained Great Smoky Mountains National Park Biologist Glenn Taylor. “After hatching, the EAB larvae burrow under the bark, and create feeding tunnels that cut off nutrient and water flow to the tree.”

Turner said an infected tree can die in three to five years.

Accidentally introduced into North America from Asia, EAB was first discovered in southeast Michigan in 2002 and has spread to 16 states and two Canadian provinces killing tens of millions of ash trees.

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