Tree-killing beetle discovered in Ottawa

A destructive Asian beetle that targets ash trees has been found in Ottawa.

Damage caused by the emerald ash borer was discovered by municipal forestry inspectors at a stand of ash trees near St. Laurent Boulevard and Ogilvie Road earlier this week, the City of Ottawa said in a news release Friday.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspectors confirmed the damage was caused by that insect.

Larvae of the beetle, which is native to eastern Asia, feed under the bark, leaving behind serpentine tunnels filled with sawdust. The beetles produce D-shaped holes in the bark, with a diameter similar to that of a pencil, when they leave the tree as an adult.

The damage eventually kills the tree.

The emerald ash borer was first seen in Southwestern Ontario in 2002. Since then, it has spread to six areas, including Toronto, that are now under regulation by CFIA to prevent the spread of the pest.

David Barkley, manager of forestry services for the City of Ottawa, said the best defence against the insect is for the public to avoid transporting firewood.

The city and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are now working to find out the extent of the Ottawa infestation and deal with it.