© 2024 WVIK
Listen at 90.3 FM and 98.3 FM in the Quad Cities, 95.9 FM in Dubuque, or on the WVIK app!
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Environment

A Hungry Insect Is Eating Ash Trees in the Quad Cities

"If you don't do anything to save your ash trees now, the Emerald Ash Borer WILL kill them." In a nutshell, that's what government officials are telling cities, counties, and property owners in the Midwest.

Two months ago, the US Department of Agriculture added northwestern Illinois and eastern Iowa to its quarantine area for the shiny, green Asian beetle. And last month (Dec.), the agency confirmed it's spread to western Iowa. It kills ash trees by eating the nutrients under the bark while still immature, in the larval stage. The borer has already killed more than 25 million ash trees in the US, and experts say the voracious bugs aren't about to quit.

On today's WVIK News Focus, Michelle O'Neill reports.

Environment
Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.