Emerald Ash Borer

A small bug, not at all friendly, entered North America in 2002: the emerald ash borer. This half-inch flying insect attacks ash trees. That's why it's called EAB.

This insect arrived from Asia as a stowaway in pallets or transport crates made of ash. Since then, it has been visiting all of Canada in the same manner, or hiding in firewood being transported between different regions.

This unfortunate visitor has joined the ranks of our Quebec insect fauna. He is part of the family tree of beetles. You will recognize him by the green and iridescent color of his body. Its larva is white, and its favorite activity is the digging of galleries in coils. Having reached its adult shape and size, the insect emerges from the tree and then prefers to eat the leaves. The EAB is enormously devastating!

Its impacts on ash tree

As you may have guessed, it's an insect pest. Its destructive capacity is due to the fact that it has no natural predators in North America. So don't get rid of it. As if that wasn't enough, it operates on the sly and carries out its ravages for 1 to 5 years. Usually, the attacked tree dies and must be felled.

The clever little fellow indulges in his escapades in 4 steps. First stage: it is a period of latency during which the larva reigns; very often while its presence is not even suspected, by deteriorating the interior without sparingly; and that during 2 or 3 years. Second stage: Approximately 12 months have passed. It is the summer. The foliage begins to yellow and the heads of the trees lose some of their leaves. The third stage usually takes another 12 months to arrive. The tops become more bare, greedy people start to grow. Another year and the fourth and final stage, the last one, the greedy ones invade the trunk, the bark peels off significantly and the tree dies.

Curiously, this borer starts at the top of the trees and then goes down. The ground is its finishing line. At this point, it has won the jackpot: the infestation is then total. Nevertheless, it is rare that we can let him have this pleasure, because very often it is necessary to cut down as soon as the tree is half reached. However, this ultimate measure should not be taken at any time. Thus, between March and September, one should avoid doing it, because it is during this period that the insect spreads.

How can such a small bug do so much damage, one cannot help but wonder? The most important culprits are the larvae. Their deep galleries eventually block the sap, which then does not circulate well at all.

How do I know if emerald ash borer is present?

Are there ash trees on your property? So, are you going to investigate for the presence of the EAB yourself? This may not be the best idea. Here's why. Certainly, the infestation has symptoms and signs. But they can be the same for different diseases. How will you know if you've been accidentally selected by EAB or another insect or disease?

It is very important to be able to detect early warning signs or symptoms with this insect. However, it can take a long time before they become visible. This period corresponds to the time when the larvae operate in secret, sometimes for years. Experts, because of their knowledge, know how to detect the presence of EAB early, distinguish it from other species and even target the appropriate treatment.

The larvae proceed from top to bottom, as we have said, when they dig their serpentine galleries, thus committing their wounds in that direction as well. Adults, become flying insects, they come out through the holes of 4 mm approximately, in capital "D", which they practice to go out. Moreover, they are called exit holes. This shape is due to their rounded belly and flat back.

What are the signs of EAB on a tree? Sap flows, cracks form, the bark is riddled with beak holes, discolours or peels off because woodpeckers and squirrels feed on the larvae, samaras (tree seeds) overabundate, as an indication of too much stress on the plant. For an amateur, everything may seem normal. Only a trained eye can see what is really going on.

Early recognition of emerald ash borer

The key is really early and informed detection. A specialized protocol exists for this purpose. It is important to proceed when the larvae are fully mature, either in the fall or in winter, as this is when they are the largest and least difficult to spot. Basically, it is a matter of selecting a branch that meets certain criteria and removing its bark. It is best to leave this technique to knowledgeable specialists. In order to give yourself the best chance of permanently eliminating this bug, it is best to proceed with the removal of the affected trees.

Preventive action

There is an unstoppable solution to not have EAB in your home. Just don't have any of this tree. That's it. But of course, some people had them on their property before the insect even thought of visiting our country. Since we don't cut down trees for nothing, it's appropriate to come to their rescue. The best solution in this case is to plant other species in order to diversify its plants.

But don't forget that the insect doesn't just invade ash trees planted in the ground, it will love to play hide-and-seek in your firewood, if it contains ash. To minimize your bad luck, get some in your area.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for enforcing regulations regarding ash wood and its transportation from EAB-infested areas to EAB-free areas. Transportation is not entirely proscribed; there are conditions that must be met for it to be allowed. The products affected by these regulations are, as you can imagine, first and foremost ash trees as trees. It is also raw wood, logs, bark, pallets, shavings, etc.. All ash. But also, quite logically, the vehicles that are loaded with them are also concerned. Tree cabling