The Mystery of the Purple Boxes...solved!

My first visitors back in April noticed these purple boxes hanging from trees along HWY 245.  They inquired about them while we were driving by ,but I had no idea why they were there. I remember asking about them at work to see if anyone could tell me what they were for, but no one had any idea what I was talking about! They had never seen them.  I have asked my other visitors if they have noticed purple boxes hanging from trees, but the boxes seem to have conveniently disappeared! This of course has garnered me a few odd side glances.  I have searched for the boxes every time I drive that highway to no avail. I was starting to believe that they had been a figment of my imagination....until today.  Returning to my car after my walk/jog/walk there was one hanging over my very own car!!

Having a good look at the box I had hoped I would be able to understand what they are for.  A bird's nest?  A feeder?  But it was empty with two retangular pieces hanging down.  Happy for finding them but still confused on what they could be, I came home to Google.  Google never lets you down!!

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- If you've driven through southern Ohio lately and wondered about those purple boxes hanging in the trees, well, mystery solved

They're insect traps, specifically for a pest called the emerald ash borer. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has 75 hundred of the purple traps scattered all across the state. Once the insects infest an ash tree, it dies within five years. That represents a significant threat to Ohio's 5 billion ash trees.

The bugs come from Asia and were first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Since then they've continued to spread south. The state placed the traps where the bug has not yet been sighted. Emerald ash borers are attracted to the color purple.

Who isn't glad I finally figured that out??