The St. Louis area has some new residents. Unfortunately, these new residents are not wanted. The Emerald Ash Borer is not native to the St. Louis area. These little beetles are native to Asia and are wreaking havoc wherever they go. Just like their name, this little pest bores into the ash tree’s trunk, and over time, it kills the tree.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is metallic green in color and has also been called the “Green Menace.” After the female EAB lays her eggs in or on the ash tree, the larvae then feed off the tree by burrowing deep into the trunk, and after two years, they emerge as grown adults.
Signs of the Invasive Pest EAB
The possible signs that your ash tree contains the EAB bugs include:
- Yellow leaves
- Wilting and thin foliage
- Dead branches
- The increased presence of woodpeckers or pecking holes
- Exit holes in the shape of a “D”
- Saplings and greenery at the base of the tree
- Wormholes on the inside of the tree
Treatment For EAB
If your ash trees do not have the troublesome guests, take caution and start an insecticide treatment plan. The treatment needs to be done every year to protect your ash trees. The best time for the treatment is in the spring because the tree’s vascular system can absorb more of the insecticide.
However, if your trees have already been infected, treating them with insecticides might be too late. If the damage is severe, the only way to take care of the problem is to remove the tree. After the infected tree has been removed, the Department of Conservation recommends replacing your ash tree with a tree native to your area.
Because of the costly damage from these little pests, many cities and states have stopped the transportation of ash wood to areas that have not yet been infected. If the infected wood is sent to a non-infected area, you are just helping these bugs spread and create more havoc on the environment. It has been found that EAB can live in ash firewood and logs for up to two years, therefore dispose of ash wood properly.
Since the beginning of the EAB infestation, costs have increased drastically. Some of these costs include:
- The loss of the ash trees
- Wood products made from ash trees
- Pest control treatment to protect the trees not already infected
- Local removal of infected trees
If you would like more information or schedule an appointment, contact Midwestern today.
