The emerald ash borer is an invasive species of beetle that has been decimating ash trees in Pennsylvania since first arriving in the summer of 2007. Scientifically named Agrilus planipennis, the emerald ash borer is a green beetle native to Asia that can destroy a tree in just 3-4 years. This pest will feed exclusively on ash trees, so if you have a white ash, black ash, pumpkin ash, blue ash or green ash, you should be on the lookout for this metallic, half-inch long beetle.
Tens of millions of ash trees in North America have been lost to to this vagrant, which destroys its victims with a tag-team assault between the larvae and the adult. As the larvae grows, it hangs out beneath the bark, feeding on the tree. Meanwhile, the adult beetles devour your tree’s leaves, which only intensifies the undercover work of the larvae.
Here are some tell-tale signs of an emerald ash borer invasion:
- Epicormic branching: shoots that arise spontaneously from buds on the stems and branches of your ash tree
- “D”-shaped exit holes from the bark and larval galleries that are “S”-shaped beneath the bark
- Upper crown dieback: when the top crown of the tree is barren of leaves
- Splits in the bark and bark flaking
- Woodpecker predation (the woodpeckers eat the larvae, so they’ll most certainly be present)
If you have an ash tree, then you are at risk for an emerald ash borer invasion. Contact the tree specialists at Corbo Landscaping right away. We’ll take immediate action to protect your yard from these invasive pests. Being aggressive in combatting emerald ash borers is key, and our tree experts have the tools and experience to effectively take care of business.
