It's Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week in Indiana.
The Asian beetle was discovered in North America near Detroit in 2004 and has since spread to 11 states. The bug is responsible for the devastation of millions of ash trees in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
Purdue entomologist Jodie Ellis says residents who have ash trees on their property can help slow the spread of the bug by inspecting the trees for infestation.
Ellis says one sign of an emerald ash borer infestation is the top third of the tree will thin out and look sickly.
A tree with a new, light infestation can be treated with pesticides to kill the bug. But Ellis says the best way to help reduce the spread of the pest is to avoid moving ash tree firewood.
Ellis urges campers to buy firewood locally and to burn it up completely. It's illegal to move all kinds of hardwood firewood out of the state, and in 23 Indiana counties it's against the law to move it outside of the county.
Ellis gives Hoosiers credit for doing a great job of responding to the emerald ash borer threat and remaining vigilant about preventing its spread.
Purdue has information about the emerald ash borer and has infestation maps online at www.entm.purdue.edu/eab