We have heard, over the last few years, a great deal about the Emerald Ash Borer as we witness and read about workers from government agencies cutting down trees in the currently infected areas of Essex County, Leamington and Point Peelee. They are also removing all ash trees in an area that stretches from Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie just south of Chatham to set up a buffer zone approximately 8 kilometers wide.

This cutting may seem like a drastic measure but has to be done. The Emerald ash Borer is a highly destructive insect pest. It is native to China and Eastern Asia and was first discovered in Canada in 2002. This insect has already destroyed a large number of ash trees in the Michigan and Windsor areas. It also poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas of many other parts of Canada and the United States and kills all species of ash. (Please note that the Mountain Ash is not a true ash species and is unaffected by this insect at this time.)

The adult Emerald Ash Borer is 8.5 to 14 mm long and 3.1 to 3.4 mm wide. Its body is narrow and elongated with a beautiful metallic blue-green colour. The signs of infestation are tree decline, including thinning crown, diminished density of leaves, long shoots growing from the trunk or branches and vertical cracks in the trunk.

The female adult lays an average of 75 eggs on the sunny side of the tree trunk or bark crevasses. After 7 to 9 days these eggs hatch and then bore through the bark to feed on the phloem layer of the tree. As the larva feed it creates S-layer tunnels under the bark. There will also be D-shaped exit holes in the bark produced by the new adult. The initial infestation of the Borer is low and therefore damage is low. However, as this insect's population increases so does its damage and, after 2 to 3 years of continuous infestation, this pest can kill any mature ash. It is therefore important that you recognize the signs of infestation.

There are some preventative measures you can take if you are not in an infected area such as not moving firewood from infected areas to non infected areas. As of this writing there is no chemical or biological agent available to control or eliminate this pest.

Our biggest concern is that, once this pest has eliminated all the ash trees in our area, its attention may turn to another tree on its menu.

 

For further info check this site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/protect
/pestrava/ashfre/agrplae.shtml


Submitted by Nancy Abra

Growing Roses in London, Ontario

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What Roses Love