Palo Alto County, Iowa —[KCCI] – An insect that kills ash trees has been confirmed in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture, the Emerald Ash Borer was confirmed in Palo Alto County last month. The non-native, wood-boring insect kills ash trees by laying eggs inside the wood, according to the Department of Ag. The dead trees then pose the risk of property damage or personal injury if they fall. The Emerald Ash Borer was first found in Iowa in 2010 and has slowly made its way across the state.

In July 2014, the city of Des Moines announced that roughly 13,000 ash trees along city streets would need to be treated or removed. Just two years ago, there were still six counties without a confirmed case of the destructive insect. That list is now whittled down to one. Emmet County, which sits just north of Palo Alto County, along the border with Minnesota, is the only county that hasn’t reported the pest’s presence. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship notes that while the insect travels only short distances on its own, it uses people to aid its long-distance movement — often in infested firewood. More information on the Emerald Ash Borer can be found at iowatreepests.com.