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Until recently, there were few treatments approved for the prevention of EAB infestations. Thankfully, the 2008 growing season brought good news.
On May 9, 2008, the IDA granted a special-use label to a systemic insecticide called Tree-äge™ (emamectin-benzoate), which boasts a 90-100% effectiveness rating against EAB. Unlike other systemic insecticides, Tree-äge™ is injected directly into the tree's trunk, allowing it to be absorbed more readily. It is also good to know that the product does no harm to animals or insects that do not feed on the tree, such as birds, squirrels, or butterflies.
PRODUCT EVALUATIONS
Tree-äge™ was tested in 2007 by Dr. Deborah McCullough, professor of forest entomology at Michigan State University. She was assisted by Dr. Therese Poland and Philip Lewis. The team began their research by treating ash trees on three sites with either Tree-äge™ or another insecticide and retained a number of untreated trees to serve as a benchmark.
Two series of tests were conducted by the team. In the first, leaves were collected from each of the trees during the summer months to determine the effect of treated foliage upon adult EAB. After four days, 100% of the beetles feeding on foliage from trees treated with Tree-äge™ were killed; compared to 40-80% killed as a result of other insecticides and 20-30% killed after feeding on untreated foliage. In the second series of tests, seven trees were felled and debarked at the end of the growing season to compare the number of EAB larvae present. They found that trees treated with Tree-äge™ had 99% fewer larvae than untreated trees. These test results are very promising. MSU will continue testing Tree-äge™ during 2008 to further investigate the effectiveness of one treatment over multiple years. |
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CONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS CAREFULLY
- Assess the health of the ash trees on your property.
- If any ash tree exhibits signs of an EAB infestation, contact your arborist.
- If an ash tree shows signs of decline or is heavily infested with EAB, consider removing the tree and replacing it with a non-ash species to help diversify the urban forest.
- If your ash tree is in fine health, is a significant component of the landscape, and is located in close proximity to EAB-infested areas, the tree is a good candidate for Tree-äge™ applications.
Remember, because this product is a systemic insecticide, it must be applied proactively in order to prevent an EAB infestation. Also — as is the nature of systemic insecticides — environmental conditions dictate the periods when the product may be administered.
It is hard to deny the excitement we at Autumn Tree Care Experts feel about MSU's test results and the IDA's support of the product. The introduction of Tree-äge™ fuels the hope that management of EAB is possible and that ash trees will continue to grace the urban forest for generations to come.
Of course, your Autumn Tree Care Experts arborist is ready to help you weigh the options available to the ash trees on your property — and estimates are always free. For more information, contact your arborist. |
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