Greater Michigan Timber Management

The Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) was discovered in Michigan in June 2002. It is a species of metallic wood boring beetle (Buprestidae) that aggressively attacks and kills all species of ash (Fraxinus), usually killing trees in one-three years. Although stressed trees are always more prone to borer attack, evidende from Michigan suggests healthy well maintained trees are also killed by this beetle.

• This beetles is now found in at least 10 states. All counties in the lower peninsula of Michigan are under some form of quarantine and isolated infestations of EAB have now been found in Ohio, Ontario, Illinois, Virginia, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Maryland .  

Despite the fact that your Ash trees may be infested and showing signs of the EAB, your trees can retain some value and are still harvestable if they have not completely died. However,The longer you wait the less value they will have!

Contact us and we will answer any questions you may have,

                    What Does EBA Look Like ?            

How Do I Know If My Trees Have EAB?

The visual symptoms associated with emerald ash borer infestations are nearly identical to those we often see on ash that are infested or infected by other ash pests and diseases. For example, crown dieback can result from multiple stressors including drought stress, soil compaction or verticillium wilt just to name a few. Therefore, it is important to look for a combination of at least two or more symptoms or signs when trying to determine the presence of emerald ash borer in your ash tree.

Symptoms

Crown dieback:

Dieback of the upper and outer crown begins to occur after multiple years of EAB larval feeding. Trees begin to show dead branches throughout the canopy, beginning at the top. Larval feeding disrupts nutrient and water flow to the upper canopy, thus resulting in leaf loss. Foliage in the top of the tree may be thin and discolored.

Epicormic Sprouting:

Stressed trees will attempt to grow new branches and leaves where they still can. Trees may sucker excessively both at the base of the tree and on the trunk, often just below where the larvae are feeding.

Bark splits:

Vertical splits in the bark are caused due to callus tissue that develops around larval galleries. Larval galleries can often be seen beneath bark splits.

Woodpecker feeding:

Woodpeckers feed on emerald ash borer larvae located under the bark. Feeding is typically evident higher in the tree where the emerald ash borer prefers to attack first. Large numbers of larvae under the bark can lead to woodpecker damage that looks like strips of bark have been pulled off of the tree. This is called "flecking."

Signs

D-shaped emergence holes: As adults emerge from under the bark they create an emergence hole ~ 1/8 inch in diameter and D-shaped.

S-shaped larval galleries: As larvae feed under the bark they wind back and forth, thus creating galleries that are packed with frass and sawdust and follow a serpentine pattern.

Larvae: Larvae are cream-colored, slightly flattened  and have pincher-like appendages at the end of their abdomen. Mature larvae reach 1 1/2 inches in length and all larvae are found feeding beneath the bark.

Adults: Adult beetles are metallic green in color and are 3/8 - 1/2 inch in length and 1/16 inch in width. Adults are flat on the back and rounded on their underside.