This infestation has killed over sixty million ash trees since 2002. Starting in Michigan and now invading many states east as far as New Hampshire, is causing this number to rise. "It is now the most destructive forest insect ever to invade North America," says Deb McCullough, an entomologist at Michigan State University. "We literally cannot keep up with it” (Hamilton, 2011).
The emerald ash borer has not been seen in Vermont yet. But that does not mean the state of Vermont isn’t getting prepared for this invasive species. Vermont’s neighboring states New York and New Hampshire are already battling their inhabitance. Because this insect has now been discovered in these states, Vermont is taking every precaution to be ready when the beetle