Emerald Ash Borer - What You Need to Know
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive wood boring beetle that feeds on the tissues underneath the bark of ash trees (Fraxinus spp) and kills them.
The metallic green beetle is native to East Asia and was unintentionally imported to the United States within the wood of delivery containers from China.
Emerald Ash Borer was first found in North America near Detroit, Michigan in 2002.
Since then the beetle has spread to several eastern and Midwestern states, including Minnesota.
The Emerald Ash Borer has also been discovered in Canada.
What is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)? Emerald Ash Borer is an insect that attacks and kills ash trees.
The mature beetles are little, iridescent green beetles that reside outside of trees during the summer months.
The larvae are grub or worm-like and live beneath the bark of ash trees.
Trees are destroyed by the tunneling of the larvae under the tree's bark.
If the bark of your ash tree is splitting in a vertical fashion, and beneath the splitting bark you notice serpentine trails and exit holes shaped like the letter D, or if you notice increased Woodpecker activity in your tree (Woodpeckers feed on EAB larvae), you could very well have Emerald Ash Borer.
What you need to know.
Since 2002, emerald ash borer has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees in neighboring states.
With the greatest concentration of ash trees in the country, Minnesota has a lot to protect.
Here is what you need to know:
Though Emerald Ash Borer adults are robust flyers, most of them only fly short distances (about 1/2 mile) and do not spread far on their own.
The vast majority of Emerald Ash Borer infestations are a consequence of human behavior.
Many new infestations have been started by people unknowingly transferring infested ash products such as nursery stock, logs or firewood into uninfested locations.
When people move firewood, they spread the beetle - and the devastation - to our forests, fishing spots, campgrounds and neighborhoods.
EAB infestations have already cost municipalities, property owners, and industries millions of dollars.
If we don't stop the spread of the EAB, the financial costs will be unimaginable and our yards, woods and neighborhoods may never be the same again.
Why should I care about EAB? Emerald Ash Borer kills ash trees.
All ash trees are susceptible to EAB and millions of ash trees have been killed in infested areas already.
Minnesota has one of the highest volumes of ash on forestland in the U.
S.
with an estimated 867 million forestland ash trees and ash is a prominent part of our urban forests as well.
The prospective economic and environmental impacts of losing these trees is significant.
The price of removing and replacing a single tree can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars - how many ash trees are in your yard? The Signs of EAB.
If you see the beetle or any signs of infestation, you have to report it immediately.
During the late summer season, fall and winter months, the beetle's larvae tunnel deep into the trees they infest.
Despite the fact that you can not always spot it, the beetle can dwell in chopped wood such as firewood.
You can aid in stopping the beetle by not transferring firewood.
Moving firewood can spread the beetle, its larvae and its eggs to healthful trees.
Burn your firewood where you obtain it.
The metallic green beetle is native to East Asia and was unintentionally imported to the United States within the wood of delivery containers from China.
Emerald Ash Borer was first found in North America near Detroit, Michigan in 2002.
Since then the beetle has spread to several eastern and Midwestern states, including Minnesota.
The Emerald Ash Borer has also been discovered in Canada.
What is Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)? Emerald Ash Borer is an insect that attacks and kills ash trees.
The mature beetles are little, iridescent green beetles that reside outside of trees during the summer months.
The larvae are grub or worm-like and live beneath the bark of ash trees.
Trees are destroyed by the tunneling of the larvae under the tree's bark.
If the bark of your ash tree is splitting in a vertical fashion, and beneath the splitting bark you notice serpentine trails and exit holes shaped like the letter D, or if you notice increased Woodpecker activity in your tree (Woodpeckers feed on EAB larvae), you could very well have Emerald Ash Borer.
What you need to know.
Since 2002, emerald ash borer has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees in neighboring states.
With the greatest concentration of ash trees in the country, Minnesota has a lot to protect.
Here is what you need to know:
- Ash trees don't have a way to defend against these pests.
Once an ash is attacked, it will be killed. - Look for 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in trees.
These are the result of borers exiting the tree once they have become adults. - Do not apply insecticides to ash trees out of the likely range of emerald ash borer.
- Do not move firewood, even inside of Minnesota.
- Extension has close to 200 volunteers trained as emerald ash borer First Detectors.
These volunteers can assist homeowner to decide if their ash trees have been attacked.
Though Emerald Ash Borer adults are robust flyers, most of them only fly short distances (about 1/2 mile) and do not spread far on their own.
The vast majority of Emerald Ash Borer infestations are a consequence of human behavior.
Many new infestations have been started by people unknowingly transferring infested ash products such as nursery stock, logs or firewood into uninfested locations.
When people move firewood, they spread the beetle - and the devastation - to our forests, fishing spots, campgrounds and neighborhoods.
EAB infestations have already cost municipalities, property owners, and industries millions of dollars.
If we don't stop the spread of the EAB, the financial costs will be unimaginable and our yards, woods and neighborhoods may never be the same again.
Why should I care about EAB? Emerald Ash Borer kills ash trees.
All ash trees are susceptible to EAB and millions of ash trees have been killed in infested areas already.
Minnesota has one of the highest volumes of ash on forestland in the U.
S.
with an estimated 867 million forestland ash trees and ash is a prominent part of our urban forests as well.
The prospective economic and environmental impacts of losing these trees is significant.
The price of removing and replacing a single tree can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars - how many ash trees are in your yard? The Signs of EAB.
- Canopy Dieback - Canopy dieback begins at the top of the tree and progresses throughout the year until the tree is bare.
- Epicormic Shoots - Sprouts grow from roots and trunk.
- Bark Splitting - Vertical bark splits expose S-shaped galleries beneath the bark.
- S-shaped Galleries and D-shaped Exit Holes - Galleries under the bark reveal the back and forth feeding pattern of the EAB larvae.
Adults emerge from D-shaped exit holes, generally 1/8″ in diameter. - Increasing Woodpecker Activity/Damage - Numerous woodpecker varieties forage for Emerald Ash Borer, producing big holes when extracting larvae.
- Review diagnostic aids for identifying EAB signs
- Search into sources on preserving tree health
- Consult a local tree professional such as a certified arborist or local extension person
- Plant a wide variety of trees
- Use appropriate planting methods
- Evaluate resources on sustaining tree health
- Talk to a local tree specialist such as a certified arborist or local extension person
If you see the beetle or any signs of infestation, you have to report it immediately.
During the late summer season, fall and winter months, the beetle's larvae tunnel deep into the trees they infest.
Despite the fact that you can not always spot it, the beetle can dwell in chopped wood such as firewood.
You can aid in stopping the beetle by not transferring firewood.
Moving firewood can spread the beetle, its larvae and its eggs to healthful trees.
Burn your firewood where you obtain it.
