Wondering about the purple triangle-shaped boxes that are hanging from trees around town this summer?

They are traps for Emerald ash borers, an invasive beetle that has been spreading throughout New Hampshire since 2013. While the adult beetles cause only minimal damage, the larvae eat the ash trees’ inner bark, disrupting their ability to transport water and nutrients. The traps are purple because it is a color within the ash borer’s visual spectrum, and they are treated with a pheromone that attracts the beetle. A sticky substance on the inside surfaces traps the insects until they can be collected and analyzed by scientists.

The purpose of the traps is to monitor where the beetle infestations may be found so as to track their spread within states. Knowing where they are helps foresters set up quarantine areas, limiting sale and transport of ash trees and ash products. The beetle larvae can be moved around easily in ash logs, branches, and even mulch.

The emerald ash borer is just one reason why you should never bring your own firewood when you go camping. Always buy your camp firewood at the campsite or a site nearby!

Banner: Emerald ash borer trap hanging in an ash tree. Photo: Lynne Flaccus