What is an Emerald Ash Borer?

The Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle species that has been present in New Jersey since 2014 and in the United States since 2002. Emerald ash borers are indigenous to Asia and are thought to have come to the United States in wood packaging. Burlington County saw its first signs of the emerald ash borer in June 2014 and Camden County saw its first signs in 2016. There are approximately 24.7 million ash trees in New Jersey. Ash trees account for about 9% of New Jersey forests and are often planted as “street” trees and in homeowners’ yards. Locally, emerald ash borers are often spread through the movement of infested firewood that is used for camping and homeowners’ wood stoves.

Adult emerald ash borers are bright metallic green and about 1/2 inch long and attack, you guessed it, ash trees. All North American ash species are susceptible to an emerald ash borer infestation, including green ash, black ash, and blue ash trees. Mountain ash trees are the only ash trees that are immune from an emerald ash borer infestation. Adult emerald ash borer beetles generally eat tree leaves and don’t cause much damage, however, EAB larvae feed on the inner bark of healthy trees, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients.

There are some early warning signs that your ash trees may have fallen victim to an EAB infestation. One of the first signs of an active infestation is heavy woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers love eating emerald ash borer larvae and when feeding they scrape off the outer bark, leaving smooth, light-colored wood patches. Here are some other signs of EAB infestation:

The emerald ash borer can have a devastating impact on healthy ash trees eventually causing your trees to die. Adult emerald ash borer beetles lay eggs on the ash tree bark crevices and when the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow beneath the bark. The larvae eat the tree tissue that is responsible for transporting water and nutrients throughout the tree and producing new tree growth. The larvae also create tunnels, called galleries, in the wood under the bark. The larvae prevent the tree from transporting water and nutrients and will eventually starve the tree. Many ash trees will die within 2-4 years of infestation.

As the ash tree sustains more damage from the larvae, it will start to become a stressed tree. Leaves at the top of the canopy will start to thin out and die within 1-2 years after infestation. Trees often try to heal themselves and new shoots, known as epicormic growth, will start to sprout from the tree trunk and main branches.

Unless there is intervention on the ash tree, the tree will eventually die from the infestation. An active infestation can also weaken the tree making it more likely to lose branches and fail in severe weather.

If you think your green ash, blue ash, black ash, or white ash tree may have an emerald ash borer infestation, have Taylor Expert Arborists perform a tree health inspection on your tree.

A tree health inspection is a thorough assessment of a tree’s overall health, performed by a licensed tree expert. The primary purpose of a tree health inspection is to evaluate the tree’s health, identify any potential issues or safety hazards, determine any tree needs, and recommend appropriate actions to maintain or improve the health of your ash trees.

During the inspection, your tree care professional will evaluate the tree’s structure and the surrounding soil and root system. They’ll also evaluate the tree’s overall health by inspecting the bark, branches, leaves, and more.

Contact Taylor Expert Arborists at the phone number, email, or the link below to request an estimate. Taylor Expert Arborists always provides free quotes in writing and includes any recommendations for tree trimming or tree removal. We have a wide range of tree pruning and tree removal equipment and safety equipment to properly perform any pruning or trimming services necessary as a result of the tree health inspection, and we always take into account accessibility and property preservation when bringing in equipment.

Taylor Expert Arborists always provides its customers with an easy-to-read written contract that protects the homeowner and tree service, spelling out pricing, payment terms, and everything that is included in the work.

There are treatment options available for emerald ash borer infested trees in the early stages of infestation. The main methods of treatment are through chemical controls such as insecticides. There are three main methods to treat early-stage infestation:

There are many resources that you can refer to if you want to know more about the emerald ash borer, how it got here, and what it can do to your healthy ash trees. Here are some valuable resources for information on the emerald ash borer beetle: