NEWPORT — An invasive beetle is causing widespread decline and death of ash trees in Newport and surrounding communities, and a public meeting has been scheduled to help residents understand the threat.
The emerald ash borer, a wood-boring beetle considered one of the most destructive forest pests ever introduced to North America, has been confirmed in and around Newport, with particular impact at Prouty Beach, nearby recreation areas and multiple public spaces across the city and surrounding towns.
The insect attacks all species of ash trees. Its larvae feed beneath the bark, cutting off the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Once infested, a tree typically dies within three to five years. Because the damage occurs internally, trees often show no outward symptoms until the infestation is advanced.
Staff from the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program will lead an informational session on Tuesday, June 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Gateway Center, 84 Fyfe Drive in Newport.
The session will cover signs and symptoms of infestation and what foresters, municipal land managers and landowners are doing to prepare. A question-and-answer period will follow. Virtual attendance will also be available.
The speakers will be Joanne Garton, a community forester with the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and Ginger Nickerson, forest pest education coordinator with UVM Extension.
