Emerald Ash Borer: An Introduction

Preparing for the Emerald Ash Borerhttp://nyis.info

Emerald Ash Borer: An Introduction

David Cappaert, Michigan State U

niversity, bugwood.org


What to look for in the trees Varies with Pest Pressure• Tier I: Early infestation

(hard to identify early EAB infestations) • Bark Splitting• Woodpecker foraging

• Tier II: Mid level infestation• Woodpecker foraging• Canopy thinning• Epicormic sprouting

• Tier III: Heavy infestation• Canopy thinning• Woodpecker foraging• Epicormic sprouting

Bugwood.org


Signs & Symptoms

• EAB infestations start in the upper part of the tree• EAB likes open grown or edge trees first (generally warmer)• It takes 2-3 years to kill a tree once a large infestation occurs


Signs & Symptoms: Bark Splitting

Note the galleries

under the crack

Crack


Signs & Symptoms Bark splitting


Signs & Symptoms Woodpecker foraging


Signs & Symptoms Woodpecker foraging

Woodpecker hole


Signs & SymptomsEpicormic, or water sprouting


Signs & Symptoms

David Cappaert, Michigan State University, bugwood.org


Signs & Symptoms: Canopy Thinning


So, what can you do?


Management Options• SLow Ash Mortality = SLAM–Survey• Early Detection– Visual signs and symptoms– Purple traps and girdled trees

–Population reduction• Remove infested trees and destroy EAB• Attractive clusters of girdled trees – Removed and destroyed after egg laying


Control Options

• Resistance – ID and incorporate genetically into native species

• Biological Control – Parasitoid wasps in culture (Asian and native).

Fungus a possibility. (USDA FS NRS, Biological Control of the Emerald Ash Borer, 2010)

• Silviculture – tried but not successful for control• Mechanical – chipping to 1 inch in 2 dimensions• Pesticides– Systemics are the only effective pesticides


Community Trees: RemoveBased on a small poll of some CNY

communities, the average cost to remove a street tree is $440.– Range of $150 to $1325 per tree• Size of tree, condition of tree,

location of tree, and contractor versus staff all affect price.

– Residential Trees can be even more

Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, Bugwood.org


Community Trees: Pesticides• Can kill EAB in an ash

(up to 40% infested) – Do not apply if EAB is more than

10 miles away– Effectiveness varies• Imidacloprid – only non-professional chemical registered• Emamectin benzoate (Tree-age) – most effective• Azadirachtin (TreeAzin) – neem seed product, inconclusive

– Frequency of application (every 1 or 2 years)• EAB may persist in an area for more than 10 years???


Pesticides• Issues (continued)– Size of Trees – ineffective spread in

crown of old trees• aesthetic considerations – is this the

same tree you intended to save?


Forests and Wild Trees• Don’t rush, make

CALCULATED DECISIONS• Identify Your ASSETS• Develop Response PLANS• SURVEY regularly for EAB• Be Prepared to ACT PROMPTLY

•Work with a forester to outline your goals and help you get top dollar for your forest investment. • Start the process now!


Community Trees

Think of this as your community.

How will the death of all these trees effect your town?


How do you decide what to do?

• Evaluate the cost of different treatment or removal scenarios

• Consider the impact of each scenario on the your home, community or landscape

• What are your long term goals for your property?

• What are your community’s long term goals?


St. Paul, MN Ash Removal- Minn. Public Radio, Nov 2009

Impact of EAB


St. Paul, MN Ash Removal- Minn. Public Radio, Nov 2009

Impact of EAB


What can you do to NOW help Ash Trees• Slow the Spread- Don’t Move Firewood• Serve on an EAB Community Preparedness Planning

committee to make decisions for your community.• Help Conduct Community Tree Inventories• Monitor for EAB• Report Suspicious Sightings

– Local CCE Office http://www.cce.cornell.edu/ – DEC Hotline (866)640-0652– http://beetledetectives.com/

• Collect Ash Tree Seed http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/geneticconservation_ash.html

• Educate Yourself and Your Friends and Neighbors

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/

http://beetledetectives.com/

http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/geneticconservation_ash.html


More Assistance

• CCE New York Invasive Species Information Web Site: www.nyis.info

• Cornell Cooperative Extension: www.cce.cornell.edu

• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: www.dec.ny.gov

• NYS Agriculture and Markets: www.agmkt.state.ny.us/PI/eab.html

http://www.nyis.info/

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/

http://www.dec.ny.gov/

http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/PI/eab.html


Thoughtful solutions result in a better outcome.

We may not be able to stop it right now, but we can Slow The Spread


Credits

• Presentation prepared by – Rebecca Hargrave, Horticulture and Natural Resources

Extension Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County, [email protected], and

– Mark Whitmore, Forest Entomologist with Cornell University Department of Natural Resources [email protected]

• Funded through USDA/APHIS and Cornell University

April 4 ,2011

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Emerald Ash Borer: An Introduction