Oak Tree Killing Insect Found in West Santa Rosa

An insect known to kill oak trees is now in west Santa Rosa. Mediterranean oak borers were first spotted locally in Calistoga in 2017. The insects, which are brown colored beetles, are small. Females average three-point-one millimeters in length, while males average two-point-three-millimeters. Several oak trees in the same west Santa Rosa neighborhood have become infested with the bugs in recent weeks. Experts believe they arrived in oak used in wine making that was already infested. They’re urging people to burn firewood where it’s cut so they don’t accidentally transport Mediterranean oak borers elsewhere.