Look out, Lakewood. An invasive beetle has found its way to the city, officials said Thursday. The emerald ash borer beetles were discovered in a small area in central Lakewood, and Colorado State University Extension in Jefferson County confirmed the findings.
"Emerald ash borer beetles target, and eventually kill, ash tree species of the green and white varieties including the 'autumn purple ash,' a popular white ash variety in Colorado," the city said.
While this is the first in Lakewood, the emerald ash borers are not new to Colorado. In 2013, these insects were spotted in Boulder County. Since then, there have been findings in parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, and Larimer counties.
Lakewood Forestry Supervisor Luke Killoran said inspecting trees is a good way to identify invasive insects.
"Look for the distinctive D-shaped exit holes, bark splits, and S-shaped tunnels called galleries underneath the bark, gradual canopy thinning and dieback, abnormal shoots of growth, smaller than normal leaves, and heavy woodpecker activity," Killoran said.
The CSU Extension has a guide on insecticide for the emerald ash borer beetles and other insects.
For more information, visit Lakewood.org.
