Emerald Ash Borer

[dave1949]

Dave, The EAB decimated the entire area of S.E. Michigan, because this is where it landed, of course. A shipping crate from Asia at the docks, I believe.

The little "volunteers" that come up in alleys, fence rows, gardens, etc were important to me and I nursed a dozen little ash trees and have replanted them. I kinda figure the borer has now moved on. Fire wood moving bans or not, this guy won't be stopped, imo.

This is worse or as bad as the Dutch Elm disease of my youth.

I'm a tree planter. These events have scarred me, in a way, and my response is to plant, plant, plant with bio diversity.

That's the way I think everytime I see an elm. We do have elms here that come from seed, they reach about 10" DBH max and then start dieing. I am always thinking someday one of them will have a natural resistance to Dutch Elm and make it. So, I never cut one until I see it is dieing.

Your ash experience confirms the horror stories we have been reading about. I thought it would be interesting to hear some first-hand accounts too.
Dave.

 

[dave1949]

I realized a couple of my Ash trees were in trouble when I noticed some beautiful redheaded woodpeckers drilling the heck out of them last winter. The trees were dead this last summer. Here is one source to give you info on battling what seems to be a futile battle Treatment Information | Emerald Ash Borer Information Network

Thanks for the link. I haven't had time to read it yet, but I will. As long as the dead trees aren't a danger, they do make good habitat for nesting birds, flying squirrels, etc. after the wood peckers.

If you have pileated woodpeckers in your area, they are awesome hole makers. They sound like a little jack hammer when they work on something solid. They are about the size of a chicken pullet, and have a call that you think should come from the jungle. Around here, they are after carpenter ants for the most part, so I cheer them on. I don't know if they hear or taste the presence of ants deep in the heart of a tree. I know if they go deep into a tree, it is full of ants.
Dave.

 

[300UGUY]

Does anyone have a stand of ash trees infested with EAB? It is not in this area yet, but they say it's just a matter of time.

What mortality rates are you seeing? Is the wood much affected by the boring?

Some areas of my lot are 30%-40% ash, I would like to plan ahead a bit if it gets here.

Thanks, Dave.

I was asked to help my bil a couple years ago, he lives in Plymouth, Mi. I was stunned - I never thought a pest would kill every single tree. He must of had 20 trees, all ash trees, all dead. I know it's a limited sample, but the mortality rate that I have seen is 100%. The emerald ash borer thrives in our climate, and has no enemies. The outside layer of wood looks like a sponge, tiny holes thruout. Makes good firewood.

 

[zzvyb6]

There is a company right here in Brighton, MI that is breeding a wasp-like critter that is the natural enemy of the EAB. Michigan State University has also found some success as I recall with some kind of trap (that is emerald colored ! ). You might want to search around for contacts to get these countermeasures. Its pretty devastating.

 

[ToadHill]

I made my living for several years as an Arborist and I can give you a bit of info on EAB. The insect only travels about 3 miles per year unless it gets a ride on wood that is transported from one area to another.

It lays it's egg in the bark crevises and the larva hatch. They bore into the cabmium layer of the tree and carve tunnels through the xylem and phloem that prevent the movement of nutrients and water through the tree. They don't bore into hardwood, only about 1 inch or less into the sap wood.

There are chemical applications that can be made to kill the larva but they are very expensive and can't be applied to large plantings doe to cost.

The ash logs can be moved from woods to sawmill during the months of October to March when the larva are inactive and the beetles are dead. The mills have to chip the bark and the first 1 inch of wood inlo chips less than 1/2 inch or burn it to be allowed to process Ash logs.

I hope they can find a natural predetor for this insect, but I still want to know why the US Department of Agriculture does not require that products imported into the country come in on treated wood pallets like most European countries require.

 

[dave1949]

I made my living for several years as an Arborist and I can give you a bit of info on EAB. The insect only travels about 3 miles per year unless it gets a ride on wood that is transported from one area to another.

It lays it's egg in the bark crevises and the larva hatch. They bore into the cabmium layer of the tree and carve tunnels through the xylem and phloem that prevent the movement of nutrients and water through the tree. They don't bore into hardwood, only about 1 inch or less into the sap wood.

There are chemical applications that can be made to kill the larva but they are very expensive and can't be applied to large plantings doe to cost.

The ash logs can be moved from woods to sawmill during the months of October to March when the larva are inactive and the beetles are dead. The mills have to chip the bark and the first 1 inch of wood inlo chips less than 1/2 inch or burn it to be allowed to process Ash logs.

I hope they can find a natural predetor for this insect, but I still want to know why the US Department of Agriculture does not require that products imported into the country come in on treated wood pallets like most European countries require.

Thanks for the detailed info. It sounds like, for all practical purposes, the ash is about worthless once it is infested. Maybe a reasonable source of wood pellets where the whole tree is ground up anyways.

Forestry is all new to me. Never owned enough trees to think about it until we bought this lot. I have lots to learn for sure. I am still wading through even-aged stands, selective cuts, site appropriate species, indicator plants, yadda yadda. Our lot was harvested about 10 yrs. ago by a fellow who buys land, cuts anything marketable, then sells. Timber liquidator is the less kind term. He did leave plenty for regeneration at least. At 60 yrs. old, I don't think I need to worry too much about getting any harvests off it I would like to encourage some areas to make valuable trees though if I can.

I have no clue about the pallet issues. Certainly lots of pests have been distributed all over the world. It could be our embarrassment of riches in this country that we don't worry about such things until we get a 2x4 between the eyes.
Dave.

 

[DocHeb]

Around me the mortality is 100% for trees > 3". A few trees will try regrowth, but it will only last a year and the tree is gone.

The latest is the Asian Longhorn Beetle - this one is non-selective - and we're in trouble.