By this time, almost everyone has heard of or witnessed the destruction of Emerald Ash Borers, a beetle species that feeds on and ultimately kills ash trees. Although the EAB has been present in the United States since the 1990’s, it wasn’t discovered until 2002 as it slowly worked its way across the states. Originating in East Asia, the EAB is considered an invasive species in the U.S., making its impact on our trees more dire than in their natural habitat. With a significantly larger number of ash trees than is found in East Asia, the U.S. has become an enormous breeding ground for these beetles, and their destruction can be seen across the country. That’s why at Treemendous Tree Care, we’ve made eliminating the Emerald Ash Borer a priority among our list of Minneapolis, Minnesota tree care services.
The Emerald Ash Borer’s Impact on Ash Trees
Emerald Ash Borers pose a threat to all ash trees, and if there are several ash trees on your property, all of them could be at risk. Unfortunately, EAB don’t focus on one tree at a time, and they don’t leave your property once they’ve killed one tree. Instead, if you’ve got one tree that’s infected with EAB, chances are you’re looking at an Emerald Ash Borer infestation that’s affecting each of your ash trees. These beetles burrow into your ash trees, feeding on the nutrients that are necessary for a tree’s survival, essentially starving its host until it dies. This process can happen rapidly or over the course of a few years, but if you don’t realize that your tree is being fed on soon enough, it may be too far gone.
Impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota
In 2009, the EAB population reached the Twin Cities area, and since then, homeowners and entire communities have been fighting to keep their ash trees healthy and pest-free. At Treemendous Tree Care, we’re experienced in dealing with these seemingly uncontrollable beetles, and we make it our priority to help make sure the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota Twin Cities area is EAB-free. Minnesota has imposed several regulations to aid in the removal of Emerald Ash Borers and quarantine ash trees that have been affected and decimated.
Because EAB can spread so easily and so rapidly, the only way to combat them in a state like Minnesota, where there is an abundance of ash trees, is to catch them before they destroy trees and can move on to their next host. By being vigilant, keeping an eye on your ash trees and the trees in your neighborhood, you can help identify Emerald Ash Borer-infected trees and prevent the spreading of these beetles. There are entire cities and towns that have been marked by infestation, but these huge outbreaks can begin with just one infected tree and quickly become a county-wide problem.
Recognizing the Signs of Emerald Ash Borers
When an ash trees is infested with EAB beetles, there are always tell-tale signs that will make the infestation apparent, and knowing what to look for could help you identify infected trees while there’s still time to save them. Although some signs are more obvious than others, if you’re paying close attention, you can’t miss the markings of Emerald Ash Borers on your trees.
The first thing you should be looking for is the beetles themselves. They’ll be a metallic green color, but if their wings are spread, you’ll see their purple bodies exposed. Other obvious signs to look for are thinning of your trees’ canopies or dying branches, indicating that your tree is suffering from some form of malnutrition. Although trees can become unhealthy for a variety of reasons, if you notice either canopy thinning or dying branches, you should look for more subtle signs of EAB damage to be sure that you consider every possible cause. If you find holes in your trees’ bark that form a “D” shape, or “s” –shaped burrow paths beneath the bark, these are clear signs of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation, and they should be addressed immediately.
Treating EAB-Infected Trees
Because EAB beetles can spread very easily from tree to tree, either by flying or hitching a ride to new locations on infected cut wood, they’re essentially impossible to get rid of on your own, and they pose a huge challenge even to tree care professionals. With Treemendous Tree Care, you can count on our team of licensed arborists to effectively treat your trees, ridding them of Emerald Ash Borers. Because these beetles work quickly, it’s crucial that you pay attention to your trees and call in the experts to treat your ash trees before they’re too damaged to salvage.
Contact Treemendous Tree Care today at 763-772-4736, and let us treat your ash trees and drive away the Emerald Ash Borers that threaten them.