I first saw a purple thing hanging in a tree while visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee over a year ago. I’ve since seen them popping up in Virginia.

So what is that purple thing hanging in a tree?

Purple Thing Hanging in Tree

Those purple things hanging in trees are emerald ash borer traps designed to attract emerald ash borers.

The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle from Asia; their larvae destroy ash trees. More info at StopTheBeetle.Info. The most important thing you can do to help prevent the spread of this invasive species is to not transport firewood.

See also: Do your part to keep Virginia’s ash trees safe