Now that the emerald ash borer has arrived in the area and threatens to kill ash trees in Greater Des Moines, you may be wondering what you can do about the pest.

You have two choices, basically. Cut down any ash trees on your property. Or prepare to pay hundreds of dollars a year to treat the ones you want to save.

State entomologist Robin Pruisner of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed the tiny green beetles have now been found in southeastern Dallas County. They had already been found in Story, Boone and Jasper counties, and they most likely already have invaded Polk County, she warned. They’ve chewed through the feeding systems of ash trees in 17 other Iowa counties, starting in the northeast.

Here’s a map of current Iowa confirmations: Click here

The state is trying to stall the spread of the beetle, declaring a statewide quarantine on moving hardwood firewood, ash logs, wood chips and ash tree nursery stock out of Iowa into non-quarantined areas of other states But the borer is expected to spread throughout Iowa. It also is found in 24 other states.

“A large portion of Iowa is not showing signs of emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation; let’s keep those areas EAB-free as long as possible by not moving wood that potentially harbors EAB or other tree pests” Pruisner said.

The city of Des Moines has a $10 million plan that involves treating 5,800 trees along streets and in parks; cutting down 7,200 in “high impact areas” over a three-year period;  and leaving another 34,000 to die and rot on their own in more remote areas. The whole plan is expected to take more than a decade.

How do you know if the beetle is around? If you see parts of your tree dying, or see a D-shaped exit hole or notice woodpeckers have become fond of your tree, it’s time to call in an expert.

Your window to treat your trees is mid-April to mid-May. That usually involves hiring a commercial applicator to apply an insecticide, but not always.

Read more www.IowaTreePests.com.

Also, these people can help:

Robin Pruisner, state entomologist, 515-725-1470, Robin.Pruisner@IowaAgriculture.gov

Mike Kintner, state coordinator for emerald ash borer issues, 515-745-2877, Mike.Kintner@IowaAgriculture.gov

Paul Tauke,state forester, 515-725-8450, Paul.Tauke@dnr.iowa.gov

Tivon Feeley, state forest health coordinator, 515-725-8453, Tivon.feeley@dnr.iowa.gov

Jesse Randall,extension forester, 515-294-1168, Randallj@iastate.edu

Mark Shour, extension entomologist, 515-294-5963, mshour@iastate.edu

Laura Jesse, extension entomologist, 515-294-0581, ljesse@iastate.edu

Donald Lewis,extension entomologist, 515-294-1101, drlewis@iastate.edu.

Jeff Iles, extension horticulturist, 515-294-3718, iles@iastate.edu