Emerald Ash Borer – The Green Menace
What is EAB?
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that has killed millions of ash trees across the United States. In Clinton County, the EAB has infested many ash trees, causing them to die or become weak and dangerous.
In New York, the insect has been found everywhere except Essex, Hamilton, and Lewis counties, which lie largely within the Adirondacks. It is believed that the invader was initially brought to the United States on infested crates and pallets from Asia, where it is native.
The EAB life cycle starts off with eggs that are laid on the bark of ash tee and in the bark crevices. Larve will hatch, then bore into the tree where they feed on inner bark, creating S-shaped galleries. After feeding inside ash trees, EAB will emerge leaving behind distinct D-shaped exit holes in the bark.
How to be aware of symptoms
New infestations can be difficult to detect right away due to EAB spending the first 1-2 years of their life feeding inside a tree. An ash tree infested with EAB may show the following signs:
- “blonding” of the trunk due to woodpeckers pecking off outer bark in search of the larvae (the light inner bark will turn gray over time);
- tree canopy dieback, yellowing, and browning of leaves;
- distinctive D-shaped exit holes in the bark; and
- S-shaped galleries under the bark, often seen when the tree’s bark splits or falls off.
How is EAB affecting the county?
EAB is primarily affecting northern areas of Clinton County. Ash trees throughout the northern tier of the county are showing signs of tree canopy dieback and blonding. This poses threats to not only county roads and public access areas, but also to public and private infrastructure, personal safety, water quality parameters of large streams in the county, soil health and erosion in the county, and aesthetics of community areas.
How to get involved?
The District encourages home and land owners to monitor their own ash trees and seek information to educate themselves on EAB’s biology and management.
- Pesticide treatments can be applied to ash tree trunks or the soil around a tree to prevent EAB infestations.
- Don’t move firewood
- Moving untreated firewood is one of the main ways invasive pests and diseases spread to new areas.
- Prevent the unintentional spread of EAB by buying local firewood near where you’re planning to burn it, and only buy an amount that you plan to burn.
- If you believe to have an Ash Tree on your property that poses a risk to Village/ County Road Right of Ways or a public access area, please reach out the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District to determine if your tree can be removed through our management program.
Get Involved!
CCSWCD encourages home and land owners to monitor their own ash trees and seek information to educate themselves on EAB’s biology and management.
- If you are planning on removing a diseased Ash Tree on your own and want to replant a new tree, look into helping our local species diversity by planting a native, uncommon species.
- If you believe to have an Ash Tree on your property that poses a risk to Village/ County Road Right of Ways or a public access area, please reach out the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District to determine if your tree can be removed through our management program.
Pesticide Treatment
Pesticide treatments can be applied to ash tree trunks or the soil around a tree to prevent EAB infestations. You can usually obtain pesticide treatments from local lawn and garden centers. You can also contact a local arborist to help with pesticide treatment and EAB management. https://www.emeraldashborer.info/homeowners
Don’t Move Firewood
Moving untreated firewood is one of the main ways invasive pests and diseases spread to new areas.
Prevent the unintentional spread of EAB by buying local firewood near where you’re planning to burn it, and only buy an amount that you plan to burn.
Links for more information:
NYSDEC
https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/emerald-ash-borer-eab
APIPP
https://adkinvasives.com/Invasive-Species/Detail/48
USDA
Reporting EAB infestations (Imapinvasives, DEC forest health)
https://www.nyimapinvasives.org
NYSDEC Forest Health Information: 1-866-640-0652
25 Million Trees survey (planting after ash tree removal)
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/69f6a2b6440848bab051f597ff4a8bf2?utm_source=QR