Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a small wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). This non-native pest was first found near Windsor, Ontario, in 2002 and has been slowly spreading throughout North America over the last two decades. It was first detected in Edmundston, NB, and Bedford, NS, in 2018 and has since been detected in both Oromocto and Moncton in 2019. In February 2021, it was detected in Fredericton.

Adult EAB feeds on the foliage of ash trees and lay their eggs within the ridges of the tree’s bark. Their larvae eat away at the vascular tissues of the tree that allow for water and nutrient flow, slowly killing the tree. The tree will die within 2-5 years of the first attack.

With no natural predators in North America, EAB can quickly spread through an area. Within 8-10 years of its arrival, EAB will kill 99% of all ash trees in an area.

TreeAzin Systemic Insecticide is a low-risk pesticide that prevents EAB damage and can help keep ash trees alive throughout and after an infestation. The pesticide is injected into the base of the tree where it is sucked up by the vascular tissues and transported to the rest of the tree. The pesticide kills 95% of any present larvae and drastically decreases the fertility of female EAB (They lay fewer eggs, and of the eggs they do produce, only 1% are viable). Due to annual leaf loss, these injections must be applied every two years to maintain adequate protection against beetle damage (yearly injections may be required during peak infestation levels).

These injections can be costly, but they are often a more affordable long-term solution to the cost of removing and replacing a large mature tree. Ecologically, they help maintain a small species population that would otherwise disappear from the landscape.

For more information on identifying an ash tree, the signs and symptoms of EAB, and available treatments to prevent damage, please visit: https://bioforest.ca/en/canada/pests-pathogens/emerald-ash-borer-eab/

Contact us today for a consultation to determine the best step forward in protecting your ash trees.