Understanding The Threat Of The Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer is a beetle that was discovered in The United States in 2002. These beetles may look pretty with their glittering emerald-green bodies, but their larvae critically damage ash trees. Scientists think that the emerald ash borers came to the United States on solid wood packing material transported in cargo ships originating in the beetles’ native Asia. Since then, this beetle has been responsible for killing hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America.

The adult beetle itself causes only minimal damage to the leaves of the ash tree; the larva of the emerald ash borer is what poses a threat. Larvae reside inside the trees and feed on its bark, destroying water and nutrient-conducting material the tree needs to survive. One-third to one-half of an ash tree’s branches may die within a year after these beetles infest a tree. The beetles multiply very quickly and are hard to spot beneath the bark of ash trees. The beetles spread when already-infested ash trees, logs, or firewood are moved into new nurseries.

In an effort to reduce the massive spread of emerald ash borers, regulations limit the shipments of ash wood, and infested trees are quarantined. Moving firewood outside the quarantined areas is illegal, yet it still occurs, continuing the problem. Research on how to stop the emerald ash borer is ongoing, as experts expect the scope of the problem to escalate and eventually cost billions of dollars nationwide.

June is typically the month to look out for this beetle. Though difficult to spot, adult beetles leave a D-shaped exit hole through the bark of ash trees when they exit during June. You can also keep an eye on the physical appearance of the tree itself: Are the branches thinning, beginning at the top of the tree? Has the tree lost branches entirely that were there last year?

The emerald ash borer is an invasive pest that poses a potential threat to ash trees everywhere and requires communities to alter the way they manage forests to prepare for the impending loss of ash trees. You should contact a professional pest control service if you believe the emerald ash borer is infesting your ash trees. You can use JP Pest Services as a resource of valuable information concerning the emerald ash borer.