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EMERALD ASH BORER
Emerald ash borers (EABs) are single handedly responsible for the destruction of tens of millions of ash trees in as many as 25 states across the Midwest and Northeast United States, including Missouri. Originally from Asia, it is suspected that this exotic insect pest arrived stateside in the late 1990s in wooden packing crates, and by 2002 the first confirmed emerald ash borer infestation was identified in southeastern Michigan. Emerald ash borer control measures should be considered if you have one or more impacted trees on your property, and all ash trees within a 15 foot radius of an infested tree should always be treated as well to mitigate the spread of emerald ash borer colonies.
If you’re unsure if your ash trees are suffering from damage caused by emerald ash borers, here are a few symptoms to look out for:
- Emerald ash borer larval feeding disrupts nutrient and water flow to the upper canopy, ultimately resulting in dead branches along the upper and outer crowns of the tree.
- Distressed or sick trees often try to grow new branches wherever they can. Infested trees often show abnormal new growth towards the base of the tree and on the trunk below the larvae feeding site.
- After larval feeding, the bark begins to dry out and split due to callus tissue. Frequently, larval colonies are witnessed beneath vertical bark splits.
If you have multiple ash trees and you live in an area known to have emerald ash borers, you should assume that this pest will remain an ongoing threat to your ash trees for many years to come. At Atkins, we recommend proactive and preventative treatments if you have a significant number of ash trees and are located in an area known to already have an emerald ash borer presence. Treatment is most definitely a long term commitment, but when done properly and infested trees are identified early, ash trees can continue to thrive even in regions where emerald ash borer populations are on the rise.At Atkins, our tree experts have figured out how to control tree borers without killing your trees – as long as we can catch the pest before it does too much damage. If you think your ash trees might be suffering from an infestation of emerald ash borers or you have a specific ash tree on your property worth protecting, contact us today. Our team will help you devise a personalized plan of action to help ensure your ash trees remain healthy for years to come.
