Emerald Ash Borer
Scientific name: Agrilus planipennis (Fairmaire)
The little Emerald Ash Borer is killing big numbers of ash trees. While
North America has literally billions of Ash trees, this little insect is
killing them by the millions every year. There is no effective treatment,
and there are no natural enemies native to North America. That currently
leaves little we can do, to control them. Quarantines, and the removal and
proper disposal of infested trees, are the only control methods currently
available.
Native to Eastern Russia, Northern China, Japan, Mongolia, Korea and Taiwan,
the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is believed to have accidentally arrived in a
cargo shipment from one of these Asian countries. It was first spotted in
Ash trees in Michigan in 2002. Major infestations exist in 14 states, from
the Midwest to the Northeast.
The primary target, are black, green, blue and white ash trees.
Wherever infestations occur, ash trees lose their canopy and die in about
3-4 years.
There is no Emerald Ash Borer treatment or control methods. The trees are
large, and the are literally hundreds of millions of EABs in trees, forests,
communities and neighborhoods. The main control method, is to remove trees
that are found to be infested. This insect has no natural enemies, that are
native to the U.S. Removal of affected trees, is costing municipalities millions
of dollars a year.
If you have an infested tree, remove it immediately. Do not store the wood,
as ash borer larvae will overwinter, and emerge in the spring.
To see if the Emerald Ash Borer is in or near your community, go the
the
USDA
Pest Tracker
Emerald Ash Borer Lifecycle
The ash borer has a one year life cycle. Adult males, are flying beetles,
approximately 1 1/2 inch long. Female beetles grow a little larger than males.
Adults are active during the day, from mid-June to mid-August. Females
then mate, and will lay 60 to 90 eggs into the crevices of the trunk or branches
of ash trees.
The eggs hatch in 7-10 days, and the larvae bore or chew into the bark of
the tree, feeding on the phloem and the outer sapwood. Larvae overwinter
in the bark, emerging in April or May through "D" shaped holes. Pupation
occurs shortly after, with adult beetles emerging, tobegin the cycle anew.
Signs of Emerald Ash Borer Damage
Large numbers of larvae damage the tree, disrupting the flow of nutrients
and water up the tree. You may or may not actually see the insects on the
tree trunks, either in adult or larvae stages.
Signs of tree damage include:
-
Increasing number of holes in the bark.
-
The appearance of "D"shaped holes, occurring the first year after infestation
begins.
-
Yellowing foliage
-
Tree canopy appears weak and thin.
-
Shoots growing from the roots and trunk, as the tree tries to compensate
for the lack of foliage.
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