EAB & Gypsy Moths Reach Central Ohio Randy Brown
July 20, 2009

After hearing about random reports of Emerald Ash borers for several
years in the columbus area,  Ash trees have started to die back all
over my neighbored this summer.

And the first Gypsy moth infestation I've personally seen occurred at
Highbanks Metropark on the north side of town (The forest covers some
hilly bluffs above the Olentangy River and is dominated by Red and
White oaks)  Truly incredible how much damage they could do week to
week during the month of June.  I saw a couple of carpets of
caterpillars several inches deep at the bases of the trees.  And then
several weeks later, swarms of months everywhere.  I asked them if
they were gong to spray and they said their were worse infestations
further north so the department of Agriculture couldn't spray the
caterpillars but will probably try the pheromone sprays once they go
to month stage.

I shudder to think what they'll do next year if they don't spray.  The
really scary thing is I run in the park regularly and didn't notice
anything amiss last year and then 'blammo' every oak tree in an area
stripped to the bone, with the 'hole' getting a couple of trees bigger
every week.

And the local media finally noticed:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/multimedia/video/hd_video.html?playerId=dispatchlargecustom&referralObject=6995441 

Sigh.  I put a picture of local ash tree in fall foliage on the file
page.

Continued at:

http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/fb522b6bad9af3fb?hl=en