Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a highly invasive, non-native insect that attacks and kills all species of North American ash trees, including white, green and black ash. EAB is native to Asia and was first detected in the U.S. in 2002 in the Detroit area.
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What is Emerald Ash Borer?
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a beetle native to Asia that was introduced to Detroit, MI in 2002. It has destroyed tens of millions of true ash species in over 25 states, including Nebraska. Forests, windbreaks, and urban trees—some 44 million Nebraska ash trees—will be lost in the coming years. Many leading EAB researchers speculate that it has the potential to "functionally" wipe out the ash species with devastating economic and ecological impacts.
Why should I be concerned?
EAB is able to kill all ash trees, regardless of their health, age or size. It has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees already in the U.S. As of October 2018, it was found in several locations in Nebraska: Omaha, Greenwood, Lincoln, Fremont, and Ashland. EAB advancing westward across the state is not up for debate; what is unknown is how many years it will take.
What does EAB look like?
Adults are green beetles approximately one-half inch long with slender bodies. Larvae are cream colored and up to 1 1/4 inch long. Larvae have brown heads and a 10-segmented body with bell-shaped segments near the back end.
David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
What are symptoms of EAB?
Symptoms include canopy thinning and branch dieback, usually beginning in the top of the tree, sprouting from the base of the tree, bark splitting, zigzag tunnels under the bark, D-shaped exit holes 1/8-inch across and bark stripping from woodpecker activity.
Nebraska Forest Service
Michigan State Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org
Daniel Herms, Ohio State University
What trees does EAB attack?
EAB attacks and kills all species of North American ash, including white, green and black ash. Common varieties of ash include Patmore, Marshall’s Seedless and Autumn Purple ash. Mountain-ash is not affected because it is not a true ash.
How do I identify an ash tree?
Ash trees have an opposite leaf pattern, which means leaves, buds and stems are located directly across from each other. Ash leaves are compound and typically consist of 5-11 leaflets. When seeds are present, they are paddle-shaped and in clusters that stay on the tree until late fall or early winter.
Keith Kanoti, Maine Forest Service, Bugwood.org
Nebraska Forest Service
Are there any ash varieties that are resistant to EAB?
Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica) and its cultivar ‘Mancana’ ash are native to Asia and are resistant. Currently no ash species or cultivar native to North America is resistant.
Where has EAB been detected?
EAB was detected in more than 25 states in the U.S. and two Canadian provinces. In Nebraska, it has been detected in Douglas, Cass, Lancaster, Saunders, and Dodge counties. It has been found also in the neighboring states of Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.
How is EAB spread?
EAB spreads mostly through human-assisted movement, such as moving infested firewood and nursery stock. To prevent the spread, moving firewood and nursery stock out of infested areas is regulated by state and federal quarantines.
What can I do to avoid spreading EAB?
To avoid spreading EAB and other wood-infesting pests, collect or purchase firewood where you will burn it. Don't bring wood with you when you travel. Leave unburned wood at the campsite.
Should I treat my ash tree?
Treatments should be considered generally only if EAB has been detected within 15 miles of your location and if the trees are in good health and in a good location in the landscape. If your tree has EAB-like symptoms, such as canopy thinning, branch dieback or D-shaped exit holes, have a certified arborist examine the tree.
For more information about whether to treat a tree, see the publication Selecting Trees for Emerald Ash Borer Treatments.
What are the treatments for EAB?
One treatment available for use by homeowners is a soil application of imidacloprid (such as Bayer Advanced 12-Month Tree and Shrub Insect Control*). The application should be made in May and is most effective on small trees, generally less than 15 inches in trunk diameter.
Tree care professionals are able to use additional products such as trunk injections and trunk and foliage sprays. Contact a certified arborist for these treatments.
For more information about treatments, see the publications Emerald Ash Borer Guidelines for Nebraska Homeowners and Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Options.
*Other similar products may be available. No endorsement or discrimination is implied.
Should I remove my ash tree before it gets EAB?
If your tree is healthy and in a good location, there is no urgent need to remove it. However, removing a tree somewhat early can have the benefits of providing space and additional time for a replacement tree to grow. It also would eliminate the possible need to remove a tree quickly when it dies, because ash trees become dangerous from falling branches soon after they are killed.
If a tree is dying or diseased, it may be best to hire a certified arborist to look at the tree to determine whether it has EAB or a different problem. Holes in the bark and dieback in the canopy can be symptoms of other insect pests, diseases and environmental problems.
Should I continue planting ash trees?
Ash has been a popular tree for landscape, agroforestry and conservation plantings for decades. This popularity has resulted in a tremendous number of ash trees being planted in Nebraska. Because diversity is an important measure of the overall health of a community forest, it is important to plant a variety of trees. Based on this and the threat of EAB, planting ash trees is not recommended.
What other insects attack ash trees?
Several species of native borers attack ash trees. The ash/lilac borer, banded ash clearwing and carpenter-worm attack healthy ash trees. The redheaded ash borer, banded ash borer, flatheaded apple tree borer and eastern ash bark beetle attack stressed or dying ash trees.
For more information about these insects, see Decline in Ash Trees: Borers & Bark Beetles: An Identification Guide.
Howard Ensign Evans, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
David Cappaert, Michigan State University, Bugwood.org
Will cold weather kill EAB?
A number of different outlets reported in 2019 that EAB would be killed off by colder winter temperatures. Unfortunately, the answer seems to be that it will not. Most insects have ways of staying alive during the winter, and EAB is no exception. They burrow deeper into the tree for the winter months and also produce anti-freezing compounds in their bodies that help them survive. While extreme cold can lead to the death of some of these insects, it usually has to be for prolonged periods of time (consistently around 30 below) to start seeing any real mortality. Additionally, being in the bark of the tree or possibly insulated by snow cover could have protected them even more. While a small percentage of beetles may die from cold temperatures, the majority will have survived and will reproduce as normal this season. This trend was also observed in 2014 with the polar vortex that hit the East. Even though temperatures were in theory cold enough to kill EAB, it did little to slow them down.
What other insects look like EAB?
Many insects are frequently mistaken for EAB. The six-spotted tiger beetle, golden flatheaded borer, green June beetle and Japanese beetle are often mistaken for EAB. For more information about EAB look-alikes in Nebraska, see Emerald Ash Borer Look-Alikes.
EAB look-alikes (left to right): six-spotted tiger beetle, golden flatheaded borer, green June beetle and Japanese beetle.
What can be done with wood from trees killed by EAB?
Only limited options are available for treating infested ash wood to ensure EAB will not be spread through lumber or wood products. For more information visit the NFS guide for utilization or contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2394.
Who can I call if I think my tree has EAB?
If you think your ash tree has EAB, contact the Nebraska Department of Agriculture at 402-471-2351 or USDA APHIS at 402-896-8256.