Emerald Ash Borer is an unbelievably destructive insect that attacks and kills

EAB compared to a penny

Ash trees.  Of Asian origin, this insect was first detected in the US in Southeastern Michigan in 2002.  By 2011, EAB had killed over 40 million (yes, 40 MILLION) Ash trees in Michigan alone.

Emerald Ash Borer is now in our NW Indiana region, and the evidence of its rampant destruction will become painfully apparent in 2012 and 2013.  As EAB becomes established in an area, the population approximately doubles each year for five years until 100% of the Ash trees are dead.

The small ½" emerald green adults emerge in late May/Early June in Northwest Indiana (probably mid-My in 2012 due to our unusually early Spring), and then feed on Ash foliage for several weeks before mating.  Female EAB adults lay eggs on the bark of Ash trees.  Later the hatched larvae bore into branches and trunks and feed on the vascular tissue just beneath the bark, disrupting the movement of water and nutrients in the tree.

Now that our Ash trees have begun active growth, it is time to act.  It is imperative to be proactive.  Many Ash trees will be killed by Emerald Ash Borer, but important high value trees can be protected by homeowners who act in a timely manner.  Applying a soil drench of Imidacloprid, a systemic insecticide, each spring or having professional soil injections or trunk sprays with Imidacloprid or Dinotefuran will be the difference between life and death.   Imidacloprid is the active ingredient in Ferti-lome Tree and Shrub Systemic Insect Drench.  If you have Ash trees in your landscape, they CAN BE SAVED.  Contact us for the most current recommendations , and be sure you are signed up for our e-newsletter.  We will tell you WHAT to apply, HOW to apply it and WHEN application needs to be made.

More Information:

www.emeraldashborer.info/files/E-2938.pdf