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As you read this I want you to think of me as Paul Revere. My main purpose in writing this article is to spread the word about this devastating pest and prevent many of you from the devastation we have experienced here in Michigan and several other Great Lakes States, Believe me THE EMERALD ASH BORER IS COMING.
It began very subtly, a few dead branches at the top of the tree. Leaves began to fall during the summer. We passed it off as heat stress; after all it had been a very hot dry summer. We thought that in the spring it would recover. It was the summer of 2002. Our two beautiful 40 foot green ash trees didn’t recover and we had to cut them down. Our once shady side yard was now exposed to the hot summer sun. Little did we know that we became on the first victims of a ½ inch green insect that would cause havoc and cause billions of dollars (that’s correct billions with a “B”) of dollars of damage in the state of Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes region.
The Emerald Ash Borer had arrived eating its way through our forests and neighborhoods with a vengeance.
Adult Emerald Ash Borer
The most likely path into the U.S. was by hitchhiking on a shipping pallet made from ash. The target area was Western Wayne County about 20 miles west of Detroit. There are many automobile suppliers in the area and shipments arriving from the Far East are a daily occurrence.
The EAB only feeds on ash trees, and southeastern Michigan was an ideal target area. You see back in the late 1950’s and early 60’s Dutch elm disease moved through the area killing most of the mature elm trees that lined most of the streets. Homeowners looking for a quick growing replacement chose ash trees.White, Black and Green ash trees were selling like crazy, nurseries couldn’t keep them in stock. By the late 70’s and early 1980’s the Ash had replaced the stately elm and the shade tree of choice in most neighborhoods. Sadly no one thought of the word diversity when it came to planting trees.
During the summers of 2002 and 2003 ash tress began to show sign of a problem, 2003 and 2004 brought death to hundreds then thousands of ash.
Scientists from Michigan State University, Michigan Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture went to work finally identifying the problem as the Emerald Ash Borer. By this time the pest had spread to 5 surrounding counties and showed no sign of slowing down. Ash trees continue to die. None of the pesticides in use at that time had any effect on the EAB, more trees died.
More than 20 nillion ash trees have been killed by the EAB in Michigan.
Quarantines were put into place, no wood from ash trees were to be moved from their counties of origin.
Trees were being cut down at an alarming rate.
The northern two-thirds of the state of Michigan is a major recreational area. Summer cottages, hunting camps and campground abound. With all of the trees being cut, firewood was abundant folks began to haul firewood up to their cottage or campsite. Either not aware or didn’t care little did they know that they had hitch-hikers in their firewood, EAB larvae. The pest was spreading. It has now been identified in 79 of Michigan’s 83 counties.
Scientists were burning the midnight oil attempting to find something to stop this pest. Trials were under way testing beneficial insects and various chemical compounds.
The insect began to spread into northwest Ohio and across the Detroit River into Southern Ontario.
The EAB generally has a one year life cycle here in Michigan, zone 5-6; but can require a 2 year cycle in colder regions. Females can mate multiple times laying their eggs in crevices in the bark of ash trees. They can lay up to 60-90 eggs during their life time. They hatch in 7-10 days.
After hatching the larvae bores through the bark and into the cambial region. They feed on the phloem and outer sapwood. The S-shaped feeding trails wind back and forth getting larger as the larvae grows. These S-shaped trails are called galleries
Feeding is completed in the fall, and the pre-pupal larvae over winter in chambers excavated in sapwood or the bark. In late April or early May the Adult borer emerges fro D-shaped holes they create in the bark
"D" shaped exit holes left by the EAB.
The trails or galleries created by this insect can be quite extensive; they actually remove the cambium layer so that nutrients and water can’t travel from the roots up to the canopy.
Gallery made by EAB while feeding
Early detection is the key in eliminating this pest. It is extremely difficult to detect early infestation. Woodpeckers feeding on the larvae are one of the early signs. If you examine the barks closely you will see small D-shaped exit holes from where the adults emerged. Bark may split vertically above feed galleries. When removed you will be able to see the tunnels that have been made by the EAB.
Watch for wilting foliage and thinning of the upper canopy. Trees usually lose 30-50% of their leaves after two years of infestation.
The good news is that several new treatments are very effective in eliminating this pest.
Imidacloprid is a fairly new insecticide that has been very effective in killing the EAB. This product is only available to professional arborists or other certified professionals.
I was recently invited to attend a seminar conducted by Michigan State University and a group of arborists. A golf course had permitted them to conduct a two year study to determine which treatments worked the best.
Trees were treated with different products and methods, other trees were not treated at all. It was extremely interesting to view the results.
Many products and methods were used in this trial
Trees that had a 50% die back were saved by treatments of Imidacloprid
Applied by injection and a basal soil drench.
Equiptment used to inject insectcide into the soil under pressuer.
Trees have a vascular system very similar to humans. By injecting the insecticide it is distributed very quickly throughout the tree.
One method of injecting product into trees vascular system.
The majority of the arborists have concluded that fertilization and plenty of water is a key element to restoring a trees health. The more stress that a tree is under the less chance it has to recover.
The recommended plan to treat an infected tree is an injection of the insecticide along with fertilizer and a root stimulator. Followed up in 4-5 months with a soil injection or soil drench of the same product.
Trees on righ and left have been treated, two trees in the center were not.
There is also a new product that shows great promise; it is sprayed directly onto the bark and has shown good results so far.
New product can be sprayed directly onto the bark
Those of you who live near states that have been infected with the emerald ash borer; keep a close eye on your trees. If you suspect that an ash tree has a problem contact your county extension or a certified arborist. The only way to eliminate this pest is early detection and treatment. The earlier you begin treatment the more successful it will be.
Keep your trees healthy, water during dry periods. Use fertilizer spikes on a regular basis. A healthy tree is less prone to attack than one that is under stress.
If you happen to have an ash that has been killed by the EAB it must be disposed of properly in order to prevent further spread.
Chipping, burning or removal to a certified sawmills to be cut into lumber are the suggested methods of disposal.
Paul’s Garden Tip
For years we’ve heard about using broken clay pots to line the bottom of pots to keep the soil from coming out of the drainage holes.
So many of us today use plastic pots and don’t always have broken clay pots lying around.
You can use coffee filters or used dryer or fabric softener sheets in the bottom of your planters to keep the soil in and the water will drain out.
About Paul Rodman
Paul Rodman has been gardening for over 40 years. He is an Advanced Master Gardener, and American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian. He is currently president of the Western Wayne County Master Gardener Association in Wayne County, Michigan.
Rodman is the garden columnist for The News Herald newspaper, in Southgate, Michigan. He has also written for the OrganicGardening.com web site.
He has lectured on various gardening topics throughout southeastern Michigan.
His favorite pastime is teaching children about gardening. For the past several years he has conducted classes for second grade students teaching them about subjects ranging from vermi-composting to propagation.
Posted by nelliewools (from Martinsville, IN) on October 6, 2007 at 10:50 AM:
One of my Yucca plants are covering the leaves. I had a problem with them last year too. The Yucca bloomed this year so although the leaves began to look rough, the plant evidently was strong enough to put up a bloom spike.
I would like to know what the bugs are and how to treat for them and if they're detrimental to my plant. I looked in the bug files and think they look most like Tumbling Flower Beetle (Mordellistena cervicalis) although it's hard to tell from the picture.
I think they are a beetle of some kind. Their bodies are black and they have a red head with antennae. They are very small, like a small ant. And, there are hundreds of them of all sizes.
Please help me identify this nasty and find a way to rid my poor plant of them. I have three Yuccas in the bed but so far they are only infesting the oldest one. I live in central Indiana in Zone 5.
Thanks for any help.
...
Posted by paulgrow (from Allen Park, MI) on October 6, 2007 at 12:18 PM:
Catch a coup;e of them, put into a small bottle of alcahol and take to your county extension office.
They can ID them and tell you how to treat for them.
Paul
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Subject: Oh no, not another one!
Posted by janisbeth (from Rock Hill, SC) on October 1, 2007 at 10:32 AM:
Mr. Rodman could use a copy editor . . . otherwise, an interesting article about yet another serious pest inadvertently introduced by global commerce. I suppose it will reach us in South Carolina eventually.
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Subject: Red Headed Ash Borer
Posted by psychw2 (from Boise, ID) on September 30, 2007 at 8:08 AM:
We lost our huge mature Ash tree several years ago in Washington to what we were told was the Red Headed Ash Borer. We had called for professional help and had SEVERAL ineffective treatments done. We spent more trying to SAVE the tree, then it cost us to ultimately cut it down. I wonder now if the treatment being used for the Emerald Ash Borer would have been effective. We were told our tree was "hopeless" but we did not have anywhere near 50% loss at the time as this article was discussing. Bearing in mind though, this was maybe 6 years ago.
Having a huge shade tree cut down out of our backyard totally changed the "feeling" of our backyard. With the tree, the yard felt peaceful and serene. Without the tree, it felt exposed, barren and strangely hostile. The advise about watering and fertilizer spikes as a way to help keep our trees in good health (and increase chances of fighting off disease) is well worth heeding.
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Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on September 30, 2007 at 5:29 PM:
Oh, how sad! So sorry to hear that! And it takes soooo long to grow another tree.
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Subject: Scary!
Posted by KyWoods (from Melbourne, KY) on September 30, 2007 at 12:47 AM:
Wow--living in the middle of over 25 acres of woods in northern KY...I just googled to see if this little devil has made it here, and the article said no, but we'd better be on the lookout, because it's not far across the river in Ohio. Yikes! Thanks for the warning! Now I know what to look for.
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Posted by JoanJ (from Belfield, ND) on September 30, 2007 at 3:23 AM:
Very informative, and I agree, very scary too. Thanks for the great article Paul.
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Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on September 30, 2007 at 5:39 AM:
So horribly destructive. Excellent information and photos Paul - this is a huge help to get the word out !
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Posted by McGlory (from Southeast, NE) on September 30, 2007 at 8:58 AM:
Thank you for the warning article. Maybe you'll reach enough folks that some will listen. When the church next door was putting in ash trees last year, I tried to talk to them, but they knew better. Sigh. Good job, Paul!
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Posted by pajaritomt (from Los Alamos, NM) on September 30, 2007 at 1:45 PM:
People can be strangely bone headed about what tree to plant. Many of us have such an emotional attachment to one tree or the other that we make poor choices such as your next door church members.
I have spent a lot of time trying to talk people out of planting Lombardy poplars in small yards, but they want instant shade and forget about the enormous problem and expense of cutting them down when their short lives are over.
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Posted by ceceoh (from Columbus, OH) on September 30, 2007 at 4:24 PM:
The ash borer is here in Columbus also and we have already lost many, many trees. The city has now declared that ALL Ash trees on city properties will be cut down to contain the spread.
Every day I walk my dog in our public park, which has many huge, champion sized Ash trees. It makes me sick to think that they would kill these trees, but nobody seems to know what the city means to do.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on September 30, 2007 at 6:43 PM:
I have watched the devastation of a disease in the pines of the Rocky Mountains....thousands of brown trees in an otherwise green forrest. I see the damage done here on my island because "Buildings and Grounds" would not treat the Sea Almonds and their disease has spread to every Sea Almond on the island.
Paul I sincerely hope that this wonderfully written warning reaches enough people to actually make a difference. I is a terrible thing to see so many trees die, when early warning could have saved them. Great job! Thank you!!
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Posted by pajaritomt (from Los Alamos, NM) on September 30, 2007 at 9:51 PM:
Not surprisingly, the pines that died in the Rocky Mountains did so during a severe drought. When testing was done, trees that were watered abundantly did as well as those treated with poisons. When the tree has adequate moisture, it bleeds sap which forces out the borer and the tree survives. When the tree is suffering drought stress, it cannot help itself. Of course, there is no way to artificially water a forest.
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on September 30, 2007 at 9:58 PM:
Little bird, I wish you could tell me what is wrong with all our Sea Almonds. They are such a beautiful tree when healthy, but sad and ugly when diseased. They won't cut them down, nor treat them, and I have now seen the last healthy one start to show signs of the blight that is infesting them all. Drought isn't the problem out here, but something sure is.
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Posted by stellamarina (from Laie, HI) on October 1, 2007 at 12:00 AM:
Shari: I do not like the sound of the disease in your Sea/Beach Almonds there in the Marshall Islands. It is likely that it will end up here in Hawaii. We get hit every few years with something here. All our Wiliwili/Erythrina trees (native and exotic) are dead from a new wasp that arrived in the islands a few years ago. Right now we are fighting an attack on the Singapore plumerias. Ten years ago a mite came in that covers Hibiscus leaves with bubbles. The Beach Almonds are such a beautiful magestic tree and it will be sad to see them go. Here in Hawaii they have been collecting any Wiliwili seeds they can find and storing them to try and grow them again in a few years after the disease has burnt itself out. Aloha
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Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on October 1, 2007 at 12:27 AM:
Stella - we should continue this discussion in the Tropical Gardening Forum....I would like to talk to you more about this. Please join me there tomorrow.
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Posted by pajaritomt (from Los Alamos, NM) on October 1, 2007 at 12:31 AM:
How sad about all these tropical trees being attacked and dying out! I don't know a think about Sea/Beach Almonds, unfortunately, but I urge you to do a google search and to find, if one exists, an expert on Marshall Islands flora. If nothing else, maybe someone in the Department of Agriculture, perhaps the Hawaiian branch.
As stellamarina points out, if you have it, it will probably eventually turn up in Hawaii. This might be a good chance for the Hawaiian's to learn what is headed their way and to, perhaps, find a control for it.
Stellamarina, I haven't any idea what a wiliwili tree is either but I hate the lost of any species. Does it grow anywhere other than Hawaii, or is it one of those unique Hawaiian plants.
Where in Hawaii is Leah. I have been there, but don't remember that name.
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Posted by MeemsDream (from Plymouth, MI) on October 2, 2007 at 11:42 PM:
Paul, Great article. A very informative and through look at a really nasty desease. I am glad that they have finally found a possible solution. It is really sad when you see all the dead trees. Thanks!
