Ash Borer Treatment

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) is an invasive wood-boring insect. This beetle can infest and kill healthy native Ash Trees (Fraxinus species), which are dominant species in the forests of the Eastern U.S. The larval stage of the insect feeds on the tissue beneath the bark, disrupting the flow of food and energy, which eventually kills the trees. 

 

Emerald Ash Borer was accidentally imported into the United States from Asia. It was discovered first in Michigan in 2002 and then spread to Ohio in 2003. Since then, it has killed millions of Ash Trees throughout the Northern U.S. and Eastern Canada and continues to spread. All native North American Ash Trees are highly susceptible to infestation by Emerald Ash Borer. Before its introduction, Ash Trees were common in Ohio's natural areas and a popular landscape tree throughout the state.

 

Healthy Ash Trees can be effectively protected from Emerald Ash Borer with the preventative use of insecticides. A systemic insecticide can be injected into a tree's trunk, where it is quickly absorbed and transported throughout the tree. Depending on the insecticide that is used, an injection can offer one to two years of protection from the destructive insect. Injecting an insecticide directly into a tree limits its impact on the environment and reduces the likelihood of exposure to people, pets, and wildlife.