With many Hoosiers using firewood to curb high heating costs during the winter, a Purdue University entomologist is urging folks to educate themselves about the emerald ash borer so as not to unsuspectingly increase the spread of this invasive species.

“As many Hoosiers know, moving firewood can inadvertently spread invasive insects, including the devastating emerald ash borer,” Jodie Ellis said in a statement released last week. “To mitigate some of those risks, consumers should keep a few things in mind when they purchase firewood.”

•Firewood should be purchased near where it is burned. Ideally the wood needs to have been cut within 10 miles of where it will be burned.

•Aged or seasoned firewood is good but still not completely safe. Some invasive species, like the emerald ash borer, can live in dry wood.

•Even wood which looks clean and healthy can contain insect eggs or fungi spores which can start new and deadly infestations.

Consumers also need to be aware that Indiana has firewood quarantines in 31 counties with emerald ash borer infestations, including Porter County. Under that quarantine, no firewood may leave those counties without a signed compliance agreement from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

“Never bring firewood from known infested areas,” Ellis said. “Not only is it illegal but is endangers your nearby trees and forests. If a relative in another county has a dying tree in the backyard for you to cut up and take home to burn, even if he lives in a county that’s not quarantined, think about what is killing that tree in the first place and whether or not you want to expose the trees in your neighborhood to something lethal.”

“One of the safest practices of all is to gather only enough firewood to get through the winter,” Ellis added. “Burn the entire woodpile before spring so any potential problems are gone before warm weather. Insects emerge from stacked firewood as soon as the weather turns nice.”

For more information visit http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/EAB/index.php