NASHVILLE (AP) — State officials say White County has been added to the list of counties under quarantine for the emerald ash borer, an invasive pest targeting ash trees.
Officials have caught an adult emerald ash borer in a trap in the eastern section of White County. The county now joins 48 other counties where the movement of ash trees and ash tree products is not allowed.
The emerald ash borer is a destructive forest beetle that was introduced from Asia into the United States in the 1990s. It was first detected in Tennessee in July 2010.
The beetles can kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation.
People are asked to refrain from transporting any firewood, even within the state.