The emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle is primarily responsible for the rapid decline of health of our beloved ash trees. This has become a rapidly increasing issue over the past few years in our region. These beetles are invasive, destructive and slowly causing the disappearance of ash trees across the northeast and beyond.
Have you seen the emerald ash borer? They have bright metallic-green wings with a coppery-red colored body and are smaller than the size of a penny. While they can be easily mistaken for other green-colored beetles, you can’t mistake the damage they leave behind.
Activity of EAB beetles can present as browning or yellowing in ash tree canopies or loss of bark, but are most identifiable by the D-shaped holes they leave on the tree. EAB’s lay their eggs in crevices under the bark and the larvae feed on the tree. (If your ash tree has lost bark, you may notice the S-shaped trails the larvae leave behind.) When the adult beetle bores it’s way out, the distinctive D-shaped holes are formed.
Unfortunately any treatments are likely to be ineffective, so we need to stay aware and take notice of ash tree health, removing them before causing harm to surrounding homes or structures. Give us a call to assess your ash trees and determine the best plan of action.
If you’d like more information on the Emerald Ash borer beetle, we encourage you to visit the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html.