Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis,  is an invasive wood boring beetle from Asia that is predicted to infest all unprotected ash trees in the United States and Canada over the next 20 years. It spreads very quickly and has already killed tens of millions of ash trees since it was discovered in 2002. Emerald ash borer has been found throughout the upper Midwest as far east as Maryland and New York and as far west as Minnesota and Nebraska.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Strategy

Emerald ash borer treatment depends on whether your tree is showing symptoms or is still healthy. Regardless of the treatment strategy, watering after treatment is important.

Treatment For Emerald Ash Borer – Healthy Tree

If your tree is important and valuable, and does not have a visible infestation, protecting from Emerald ash borer is both affordable and effective. Xytect™ is a professional strength insecticide for treating emerald ash borer that can be mixed with water and poured at the base of the tree. Annual treatments are required to maintain protection. This product can be applied from March through June or September through November, but the optimal treatment time is March through May. Start treatment for emerald ash borer when you are in a quarantined county and before symptoms appear.

How Is It Spread?

Emerald ash borer lays its eggs on the bark of an ash tree and the larvae tunnel through the bark and begin consuming the sapwood of the tree. This feeding disrupts water flow to the canopy dehydrating and killing that portion of the tree. Eventually, the whole tree will die.

Susceptible Trees

Ash trees, including green ash trees.

Symptoms

Early infestations of emerald ash borer are nearly impossible to detect; the tree does not show outward symptoms. However as the infestation grows, the tree will decline and then die.

Emerald ash borer symptoms you will see as the infestation progresses:

• Early fall coloration

• Dieback of branches with sparse foliage

• New branches sprouting from the lower trunk

• Woodpeckers feeding on infested trees

• D shaped exit holes

• Decline in groups of ash all at the same time

Lookalikes

Drought, construction injury, anthracnose, other native ash borers

Related/Similar Problems

Drought, construction injury, anthracnose, other native ash borers

Timing

Spring or Fall

Urgency

High

Risk Of Spreading

High

If you are looking to replace your existing Ash Trees or potential close alternatives , we recommend you contact Arbor Hill Trees Tree Farm, LLC.