The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive pest that targets vulnerable ash trees, has moved further into New York counties, after being identified in Westchester and Broome counties by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

DEC commissioner Joe Martins announced the discovery of ash borers in traps deployed by the department this week.

"DEC deployed the trap that detected the EAB beetle as part of DEC's continuing Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM) strategy, to slow the spread of EAB within the state and mitigate its economic and environmental impacts," Martens said in a statement.

EAB is an invasive species with almost no natural predators in the United States. This means the insect is free to reproduce wherever en masse, according to Nature World News.

Its larvae feed just below an ash tree's bark, which interferes with the plant's water and nutrient uptake and causes it to die out.

Since being found in New York's Cattaraugus County in 2009, the green insect has marched on to invade 24 different counties. Most of the infested areas are small and localized and more than 98 percent of NY's forests and communities aren't infested.

New York has more than 900 million ash trees, or seven percent of all trees in the state, which are all at risk of emerald ash borer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Urban and suburban ash trees are more at risk, as are trees planted as ornamental trees in yards.

The U.S. DOA also confirmed recently that the borer also attacked the white fringe tree, which is in the same family as the ash, forsythia and lilac, according to NWN. Experts don't know quite what to make of the find yet, other than that it is worrisome.

"This is bringing up more questions than answers," said Tom Tiddens, supervisor of plant health care at the Chicago Botanic Garden, in a press statement.

Owners can get their properties check by contacting their local DEC Forestry office.

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