Insect that spreads deadly tree fungus found in Indiana

BROOKVILLE, Ind. (AP) – State officials say an insect that’s involved in spreading a fungus that’s deadly to black walnut trees has been found for the first time in Indiana.

The Department of Natural Resources said Thursday that a walnut twig beetle was found in a trap at a saw mill in Franklin County.

Additional beetles were later found in walnut logs and lumber at the southeastern Indiana mill.

The walnut twig beetle spreads thousand cankers disease fungus, which is lethal to black walnut trees.

State Entomologist Phil Marshall has ordered the mill quarantined. The DNR says the mill is destroying walnut material to prevent the fungus from spreading beyond its property.

The fungus was detected in Indiana for the first time last year in black walnut trees at Brown County’s Yellowwood State Forest.