Emerald Ash Borer, Emerald Ash Borer Service Chicago

The Emerald Ash Borer is Here! Take Action!

Now is the time to take preventative action against the Emerald Ash Borer. Since 2002, this aggressive pest has destroyed at least 20 million ash trees throughout the Midwest and Canada. The Emerald Ash Borer is now in the Northwest Suburbs.

The Emerald Ash Borer feeds mainly at the crown or top of the tree, making it difficult to notice until it is too late to save the tree. The adult Emerald Ash Borer is a small (1/2" long, 1/8" wide) metallic green beetle that in its larval stage, chews S-shaped galleries under the bark severely damaging the trees ability to absorb water and nutrients. This causes dieback and eventual death of the tree. The Emerald Ash Borer beetle begins to emerge in late May/June, feeding on the leaves of the host tree. It will then mate and lay eggs in gaps in the bark. After the eggs hatch in July, the larvae bore into the trunk and feed in the nutrient-rich cambium area between the bark and the wood through October. They will over-winter under the bark and pupate in the spring, emerging as the beetle in late May/June, thus completing the cycle.

All Ash trees are at risk, regardless of health, but trees already under stress are even more susceptible. Small trees will generally die in 1-2 years and large trees in 3-4 years. Common signs of Emerald Ash Borer infestation include: loose bark, vertical splitting of the bark, crown dieback, suckering growth from the base of the trunk (the tree looks like it has a bush growing at its base), and 1/8" diameter D shaped exit holes in the trunk and upper branches.

If you have a specimen ash tree, we recommend preventative systemic insecticide treatment including trunk or soil injections late April through early June. Curative treatments are done June through August. Tree with more than 30% damage are considered unsalvageable and must be removed.

Preserve the beauty and value of your landscape. Take action today to protect your ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer. Call us at 847-392-7097 to arrange an inspection!

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	The Emerald Ash Borer is here! Take action!