Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer or EAB was first discovered in south eastern Michigan. EAB is a non-native pest brought in accidentally from Asia. The adults or beetles feed on the foliage of ash trees doing very little damage. The larvae or youth stage feed on the inner parts of the wood of the tree. It’s this feeding pattern that disrupts the ability of the tree to trans-locate water and nutrients throughout itself. Every infestation is different due to population, weather, predators, and timing. A few indicators of an infestation are the dying of the canopy of the tree, irregular shoot growth on the trunk near the base, actually seeing the beetle on or around the tree, seeing “D” shaped holes on trunk or branches, peeling back the bark and visually inspecting cambium and inner bark region for a “S” shape galleries where bark has split, and a abnormal amount of woodpecker sightings on or around your tree. The only indicators that can’t be confused with something else that might be going on is witnessing the the bug itself and or seeing what it’s larvae has done. Currently EAB has only been spotted in northern states from Minnesota to Pennsylvania down to Virginia and over to Missouri. The spread of EAB is slower than other well known tree diseases in the way that it is all from a bug. And its the bug’s larvae state that kills the tree. There are several ways to protect your trees from EAB. Soil and trunk injections, canopy and bark sprays, and soil drenches. All of which are protective measures one could take in limiting chance of infestation.
For more information on EAB and to see current locations of infestations http://www.emeraldashborer.info/index.cfm
Rob Hutcheson, Certified Arborist of Tree and Stump, Co.
Call me today for an free estimate: (952)447-6187