As part of its plan to address forest insect and disease threats, the Saskatchewan Government has listed the Emerald Ash Borer as a designated insect pest.

The insect, deadly to all species of ash tree, was detected in Winnipeg this past December.

Doctor Rory McIntosh is an Insect and Disease Expert at The Forest Service Branch at the Ministry of Environment. He explains what the Emerald Ash Borer looks like. "A bright green, florescent green almost, wood boring insect. It's a beetle. It's probably about, I don't know, three quarters of an inch to an inch long, the adult. It originates from Northeast Asia and The Far East."

Doctor McIntosh is quick to say that the insect has not been found in Saskatchewan.

He says the Emerald Ash Borer is spread primarily by people transporting wood, so a reminder that by not bringing potentially infected wood into Saskatchewan, everyone can help keep these forest pests out of the province.

He adds that there is no cure for trees that are infested with the insect.