An invasive beetle species wreaking havoc on trees in Prince George?s County could spread to other parts of Maryland, officials said.
The emerald ash borer kills ash trees by feasting on their inner bark, cutting off the flow of water. The Asian beetle was first spotted in the nation near Detroit in 2002 and has since spread to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Prince George?s County and Ontario, Canada, said Mitch Irwan, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. It probably came to Maryland from a Michigan nursery farmer who was illegally transporting quarantined trees, Irwan said. Officials fear the pest may spread outside of the Brandywine/Clinton area of Prince George?s if the bugs fly out or if quarantined lumber or trees are removed.
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