How Ash Borers Damage Your Trees

hole in tree trunk

The Emerald Ash Borer is a wood boring beetle, with a metallic green ½ inch long body originating from Asia, and was discovered in North America, in 2002. Although the 2002 finding was in Michigan, they were confirmed in Colorado by 2013. Emerald Ash Borers have killed hundreds of millions of trees in North America since their fateful arrival. 

However, it’s not them you truly need to worry about, it’s their larvae. The larvae are small white grubs that tunnel under a tree’s bark, and can cause feeding damage to the heartwood of the tree that greatly weakens your trees. And more often causing the trees to break, and in rare, more severe, cases it can even cause their death.

What trees do Emerald Ash Borers attack?

Ash Tree
Source: ARB Tech

Emerald Ash Borers feed on their namesake, the Ash Tree, and with continuous feeding, can kill the trees in 3-5 years. Colorado State University states that they expect Emerald Ash Borers to eventually kill almost every unprotected Ash tree growing in North America. Since its discovery in 2002, Emerald Ash Borers have killed or seriously damaged millions of native Ash trees.

Signs you have an infestation of Ash Borers:

Small D-Shaped holes in the trunk of an ash tree are a sure sign you have an infestation
Source: Perverdonk

If you have Ash trees on your property, remember to watch for the signs of Emerald Ash Borers. If you notice any of the following signs, or multiple signs, there’s a chance you have an infestation, and should take immediate action.

  • Thinning and Yellowing Leaves 
  • Branches Beginning to Die
  • Suckering at the Lower Portions of the Trunk
  • Excessive Woodpeckers and Woodpecker Holes
  • Vertical Cracks in the Bark
  • D-Shaped Exit Holes

How to get rid of Ash Borers:

Emerald Ash Borers are one of the most common tree diseases. Worried you have an infestation? Well, first take a deep breath you can get rid of Emerald Ash Borers. 

First, attempt to alleviate any tree stresses, and then treat with insecticide. This insecticide should be used as early as possible to ensure it eliminates the larvae. Keep in mind, soil insecticides aren’t as effective as bark ones. We understand that infestations can be stressful, especially ones as detrimental to a tree’s health.
If you’d rather leave your tree’s health to the professionals, we have a protection service targeted towards wood boring insects.