Frequently Asked Questions

Should I protect my tree?

The only one that can truly answer that question is you. Every living tree has a value, if you live in or near an infested or regulated area for EAB, your tree is likely to be infested. It only takes one to two years for EAB populations to build up to the threshold to be able to kill your tree. Forestree Care is providing treatment as affordably as possible. Trees may hold special value as memorials or may be of National Historic importance. Others provide shade or beautification to property. There are many considerations in deciding which trees should be protected.

How often is treatment necessary?

It is recommended that every two years the treatment be repeated. A maintenance dose, can be applied annually, at a lower cost.

Where did the emerald ash borer come from?

The natural range of Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis, is eastern Russia, northern China, Japan, and Korea. Prior to June of 2002, it had never been found in North America.

How did it get here?

No one knows for sure, but it most likely came in ash wood used as shipping dunnage, (that is wood used to stabilize cargo in ocean going ships) or in packaging or crating heavy consumer products. It, like most invasive insects, was first discovered in a port city.

What types of trees does the emerald ash borer attack?

In Ontario, it has only been found in ash trees. All species of North American ash appear to be susceptible. Trees in woodlots as well as landscaped urban areas are equally affected. All sizes of trees are at risk and tree age does not seem to matter.

What happens to infested ash trees? (see photo gallery)

The first sign is thinning of the tree canopy above infested portions of the trunk and major branches (see photo gallery). This is due to larvae destroying the water and nutrient conducting tissues under the bark. Heavily infested trees exhibit canopy die-back usually starting at the top of the tree. This can happen quite quickly, one-third to one-half of the branches may die in a single year. Occasionally, sprouts develop in the lower trunk after the upper portions of the tree dies. The adult beetles leave a "D"-shaped exit hole in the bark, roughly 4mm in diameter, when they emerge in June through August.

How is this pest spread?

EAB adults can fly at least 500 metres from the tree from which they emerged. Many infestations start when people move infested ash firewood into unaffected areas. Shipments of ash nursery trees and ash logs with bark are now regulated, and transporting firewood outside of quarantined areas is illegal. Nonetheless, people still transport infested firewood which contributes to the spread of EAB.

Do not move any ash firewood or logs outside of a quarantined area. It is illegal and deadly to other trees.

Does the emerald ash borer only attack dying or stressed trees?

No. Healthy ash trees are also very susceptible to this insect. It has been suggested that the adult beetles may prefer to lay eggs or feed on stressed trees; however, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. When EAB populations are high, small trees may die within 1-2 years of becoming infested and large trees can be killed in 3-4 years.