A major concern over wide areas a decade ago, the forest tent caterpillar has most recently been reported to cause serious problems in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and a small area of North Carolina. Oak, tupelo, and other hardwoods are affected. The pest is endemic across all eastern hardwood regions. Emerald Ash Borer The emerald ash borer is an exotic insect, native to Asia, that was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. The insect attacks a number of species of ash and kills trees by destroying the water and nutrient-conducting vessels (Roberts 2004). Large numbers of ash are slated for destruction in Michigan in an attempt to eliminate breeding sites for new generations of insects.