Arbor Masters Tree & Landscape
ALERT
Emerald Ash Borer spotted in Kansas City Metro area! 
 
Emerald Ash Borer 

The Emerald Ash Borer was recently discovered in the Kansas City metro area. Researchers believe that this invasive and destructive insect arrived in the United States in 2002, from a shipment of goods that originated from Asia. Since then, the Emerald Ash Borer has traveled over fifteen states, killing trees in both residential and forested areas.


The Emerald Ash Borer can only fly short distances, traveling primarily through infected firewood and nursery stock. This insect prefers all species of Ash trees and does not discriminate between healthy or drought stressed trees. In the past ten years, this colorful insect has destroyed millions of Ash trees from Michigan to Illinois with damages estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

There are several telltale signs that would indicate an Emerald Ash Borer infestation:
 Sprouts at base of diseased Ash tree  
Emerald Ash Borer Symptoms 
  • Thinning canopies: Die back will start at the top of the tree canopy and will progress throughout the tree until the tree is dead.
  • "S" shaped tunnels under the bark: These "S" shaped tunnels are created by the Emerald Ash Borer feeding on the inner layer of the tree located under the bark. These tunnels are visible when the outer layer of bark has been removed. 
  • Splitting bark: Vertical splitting in the bark can expose the "S" shaped tunneling.
  • D-shaped exit holes - the D shaped holes are the exit points for the adult Emerald Ash Borer.
  • Shooting sprouts or volunteers at base of dead trees. 
Prevention

The best defense is a proactive offense. There are several preventative steps that can be taken to fortify your Ash tree against the Emerald Ash Borer. Depending on the type of insecticide used treatment can be administered as soil injections, direct trunk injections, or systemic bark sprays to control the Emerald Ash Borer. Protective cover sprays on the foliage reduce adults feeding on the leaves of trees. In addition, preventative trunk sprays for larvae control can complement our injection services.

 

The benefits of treatment versus removal and replacement of a tree can be a difficult decision. With preventative treatments, mature Ash trees offer a number of benefits including, increased property values, decreased air conditioning costs and contributing to the quality of life in a neighborhood. With the lack of treatment, Ash trees in the areas with known infestations will decline and require removal and replacement. The cost of removing a large, mature Ash tree can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, not to mention the grinding of unsightly stumps that can average several hundred dollars. The cost of replacing that lost shade tree, can average $300-500 installed, depending on the replacement size. To learn more about the destructive Emerald Ash Borer, click here.

 

Due to the severity of this situation, any tree evaluation for the Emerald Ash Borer should be performed by a Certified Arborist trained in the detection and treatment of insects and disease control. Contact the experts at Arbor Masters® for your tree evaluation.

Arbor Masters Tree & Landscape
Chad Gilliland; Certified Arborist
Plant Care Division Manager
Arbor Masters Tree & Landscape
Laura Peterson; Certified Arborist
Plant Care Specialist