EAB INFO, Emerald Ash Borer

EAB INFO

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) is an invasive pest from Asia that attacks ash trees and threatens the population of ash tree in the United States. EAB was accidentaly introduced into the US and Canada in the 1990s, and was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Through a combination of natural spread and human activity EAB infestations are now present in atleast 14 states. The Emerald Ash Borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees in urban, rural, and forested settings. In 2009, EAB was first discovered in St.Paul. The effect of the EAB beetle could be devasting to Minnesota as it has one of the largest concentrations of ash of any state in the country, with about 900 million ash trees, thus making it a prime target for infestation. Minneapolis ash trees make up 20 percent of all trees on public and private land in the city. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has issued a state quarentine on firewood, ash trees, and ash tree products in Hennepin, Ramsey, Houston, and Winona counties to help slow the spread of EAB to other areas. Officials are urging Minnesotans to take steps to keep EAB from spreading!

WHAT DOES AN EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) LOOK LIKE?

The adult EAB is a small metallic green beetle, about 1/3 to 1/2 inch long. The body is narrow and elongated and the head is flat with black eyes. It's body underneath the wings is a purplish color. The adult beetle briefly feeds on ash foliage, although not causing lasting damage before reproducing and laying eggs in the twigs and branches of the tree. However, the larvae burrow under the bark of the ash tree creating a series of "S" shaped galleries while feeding in the vascular cambium, disrupting the the transport of water and nutrients to the tree. The larvae feed until fall then overwinter as prepupal larvae. The adult beetle typically emerges around June, leaving "D" shaped exit holes in the bark. The EAB generally have a one year life cycle.

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EAB Larvae EAB Larval Galleries "D" Shaped Exit Holes

SIGNS OF EAB INFESTATION:

Ash trees do not have natural defenses from the Emerald Ash Borers. Early symptoms can be difficult to diagnose, but eventually the canopy dies from the top down. In some cases as many as one half of the branches may die back in one year of infestion, in other cases it may take several years before symptoms are visible in the canopy. The tree will try to compensate by sprouting new epicormic growth below the level of infestation. The bark may also begin to split. Trees are typically killed in two to four years.

EAB Info and Great Estates Yard and Tree provides EAB treatments to ash trees and provides tree care services in all of Central Minnesota and the twin cities metro area. Minnesota ISA Certified Arborist and MN Licensed Pesticide Applicator

Minnesota cities located within a 20 mile radius of known eab infestations include, but are not limited to:

Minneapolis, St.Paul, St.Louis Park, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Roseville, Richfield, Edina, Hopkins, Golden Valley, Crystal, New Hope, Robbinsdale, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Columbia Heights, Shoreview, Arden Hills, Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Spring Lake Park, Moundsview, Blaine, Circle Pines, White Bear Lake, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, Little Canada, Maple Wood, Oakdale, Falcon Heights, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Maple Grove

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EAB INFO