South Dakota’s top forestry expert says an invasive, tree-killing insect discovered here for the first time four years ago has likely spread through much of the eastern part of the state.

And there’s no doubt the emerald ash borer (EAB) is now infesting trees throughout the entirety of South Dakota’s largest city.

Professor John Ball, a forest health specialist with the South Dakota State University Extension Office and the State Agriculture and Natural Resources Department, told The Dakota Scout in a recent interview that after first discovering EAB in a northern Sioux Falls neighborhood in May 2018, the bug has been detected in trees across the city as well as other eastern South Dakota communities like Brandon, Canton, Humboldt and Worthing as well as Newton Hills State Park.

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“Now it’s not just restricted to towns,” he said. “If you get down to Lincoln County, you can find it in windbreaks.”