Warm weather draws ash borers out early

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - A Purdue University bug expert says Indiana's warm weather has brought emerald ash borers out about a month ahead of schedule, so homeowners should take steps now to protect their trees.

Entomologist Cliff Sadof says homeowners who want to protect their ash trees with insecticides need to start applying them as soon as possible because adult borers typically take flight about the same time that black locust trees bloom. He says the black locust bloom already is occurring in many parts of Indiana.

Sadof says the eggs laid by adult borers will produce grubs that start drilling into ash trees in about a month.

More information is available at www.eabindiana.info. Available resources include how to determine whether trees are infested and how to take care of the problem.