The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in Robertson County. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees.
EAB was discovered in the United States in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of ash trees in 35 states, including Tennessee, where it was first confirmed in 2010. Robertson County is the latest of 67 Tennessee counties with confirmed detections.
All ash species are susceptible to EAB, affecting both rural and urban areas where ash trees are common. Infested trees typically die within two to four years after initial signs appear. EAB is spread mainly by human movement of untreated firewood, infected nursery stock, unprocessed saw logs and other ash products…