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SUMMER 2006: PDF VERSION (1.6 MB)
IN THIS ISSUE:
WORKING WITH NATURE TO SAVE NATURE:
Emerald Ash Borer
By now, it is certain that you’ve heard of the Emerald Ash Borer or EAB (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), so you know that all of your community’s ash trees are in grave danger. The immensity of this issue is difficult to fathom.
Take a walk through your neighborhood and make note of the number of ash trees that you see. You’ll notice that they are pretty popular: approximately 20% of our urban forest is comprised of ash trees.
Think of it this way: remember the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease? If the current Emerald Ash Borer infestation cannot be contained, the insect’s impact could be worse than Dutch elm disease. It is a horrifying thought.
Particularly alarming is the havoc this tiny insect has already wreaked in the Midwest. Since its discovery in 2002, at least 15 million ash trees have been lost in Michigan alone. An estimated 15 - 20 million ash trees are dead or dying as a result of the insect’s presence in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. In some areas, entire communities have been stripped of their ash trees.
So how widespread is the infestation in Illinois? An EAB infestation in its early stages is quite difficult to detect; as a result, the task of estimating the damage EAB has already caused in our community is particularly challenging. If the prediction made by state officials is correct — that EAB has been present in Illinois for the past 4 to 5 years — then the chances are good that we’ve merely found the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We need to find it so we can control it.
That’s where you come in.
EAB was discovered in Illinois due to the vigilance and persistence of one well-educated resident in the Fox Valley. Countless arborists and state officials are actively searching for the pest, but we need your help. The only way we will be able to thoroughly track new infestations and restrict the insect’s progress — and in the process prevent the loss of millions of ash trees in Illinois — is if you (and your friends and your neighbors) follow that resident’s example:
- Learn about the insect.
- Know and look for the warning signs of an infestation.
- Contact an ISA-certified arborist when you find something suspicious.
This is a community-wide issue. As a community, we can save Illinois’ ash trees.
INSECT PROFILE: EMERALD ASH BORER
Facts about an EAB Infestation:
- EAB attacks all ash trees, regardless of the tree’s health.
- Symptoms of an EAB infestation may take at least one year to appear.
- Infested ash trees may die within two to three years after infestation
- An adult EAB typically travels 1/2 mile or less annually.
- Humans can unwittingly assist the spread of EAB — particularly by moving firewood.
Signs & Symptoms of an Infestation:
- Tiny — 1/8” diameter — D-shaped exit holes marking the tree’s trunk and upper branches
- Loose bark and vertical splitting of the bark
- Damaged bark caused by woodpeckers trying to feed on EAB larvae
- Thinning canopy and branch dieback occurring at first in the upper 1/3 of the tree
- Several watersprouts growing from the tree’s trunk
Lifecycle of the EAB:
- An adult EAB is a 1/2” long, 1/8” wide metallic green beetle.
- Adults emerge from infested trees beginning in mid-May through late July (emergence peaks in early June).
- A female EAB will lay approximately 75 eggs on an ash tree’s bark from late May through July.
- Larvae tunnel into the cambium area of the tree (just beneath the bark). There, they feed on the tree’s phloem and outer sapwood, creating S-shaped galleries that interfere with the flow of water and nutrients within the tree.
- Larvae overwinter in chambers beneath the tree's bark. Pupation begins in April.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
It will take a community-wide effort to save our ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer. Here are a few ways that you can help:
Be Loud. Spread the word about EAB to your friends and neighbors. Be sure they know the warning signs of an infestation and encourage them to look for the pest.
Be Vigilant. Look for the signs and symptoms of an EAB infestation in your community. (Look carefully! An EAB infestation in its early stages is quite difficult to detect.) If you see anything suspicious, contact the ISA-certified arborists at Autumn Tree Care Experts. We will send an arborist to the site to evaluate the situation.
Be Cautious. Avoid spreading EAB. Do not move firewood or nursery stock from areas where EAB has been discovered. Also, while camping or traveling in infested areas, be aware that EAB may try to travel with you.
Be Proactive. Before EAB becomes an issue in your neighborhood, carefully assess the health of the trees on your property. If any of your ash trees are showing signs of decline, this might be a good time to diversify your landscape with non-ash species. If your ash trees are in fine health, consider proactive treatment options such as systemic insecticide applications. These preventative measures may help deter EAB from feasting on your trees. Be aware, though, that if EAB is discovered in your region, regulatory agencies may order the removal of all ash trees within a specified quarantine area.
ASK AN ARBORIST:
Systemic Insecticides
With the discovery of the Emerald Ash Borer in Illinois, naturally the next topic of conversation is how to control the pest. One method of control that is often discussed is the use of a systemic insecticide. Systemic insecticides have been used in many situations to protect a tree against an insect pest. But what exactly is a systemic insecticide?
“Insecticide” is a familiar term: it is a product designed to rid a plant of a specific insect pest. Got it.
“Systemic” refers to the insecticide’s mobility throughout the plant; a systemic insecticide is taken up by the tree and transported (translocated) by the vascular tissue through the entire tree.
Because a systemic insecticide travels within the tree, it only affects those insects that are actively feeding on the tree and does not harm beneficial insects. Also, once the insecticide is absorbed, it will not be washed away by the elements as readily as a surface application.
A systemic insecticide may be sprayed on a tree’s foliage, injected into the tree’s trunk, or applied to the soil surrounding the tree’s root flare. Each method has its benefits.
The arborists at Autumn Tree Care Experts prefer to administer systemic insecticides via soil applications. This method avoids damage to the trunk — as is necessary with a trunk injection — and is less likely to be washed away by the elements before being absorbed — as is sometimes the case with foliar sprays.
Regardless of the manner of application — because the insecticide travels within the tree’s vascular tissue — a systemic insecticide’s effectiveness depends greatly on the health of the tree. For example: if there is any existing damage to the tree’s vascular tissues (caused by issues such as scaring or girdling) or if the tree is stressed by drought, it may take a longer period of time for the insecticide to be dispersed by the tree.
Even under ideal conditions, it takes time for a systemic insecticide to be dispersed. As a result, systemic insecticides are all about timing. A proactive application is the best way to provide thorough protection from insect pests. Systemic insecticides are generally administered once a year in the fall in order to provide thorough protection during the following growing season.
One fall application for one year of insect control…not a bad deal!
If you would like additional information about systemic insecticide treatments, contact your ATCE arborist at 847.729.1963.
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| © 2006 Jayson DeGeeter |
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A PART OF THE SOLUTION:
Dan Klindera Appointed to Illinois EAB Team
ATCE Vice President, Dan Klindera, was recently appointed to serve on the Emerald Ash Borer Team for the State of Illinois. The Team — formed in 2003 by The Morton Arboretum — is comprised of over 40 representatives from state, federal, county, and municipal governments, the green industry, and non-profit organizations.
Before EAB made its way to Illinois, the Team (then called the EAB Readiness Team) developed a plan to respond to the borer’s eventual arrival. Now, the Team will put that plan into action: educating the public about the insect, surveying for new infestations, and generally saving our ash trees in countless other ways.
The Readiness Team sort of sounds like a group of EAB-fighting superheroes, don’t they? We’ll order a costume for Dan. He’d like that.
ATCE EVENTS
Another season marks another series of events at ATCE — woo hoo! Each event is an opportunity for our arborists to share their tree care expertise with tree huggers across Chicagoland. Here’s a list of what we’ve been up to lately.
Lectures
April 5: Vice President Dan Klindera led a discussion about the Emerald Ash Borer for members of the Lieberman Property Management team.
May 5: Arborist Paul Blome presented a lecture about tree care to members of the Vanguard Property Management team.
May 20: Vice President Dan Klindera led a Guided Garden Walk of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s spring flowering trees and most stately arboricultural specimens.
May 31: Vice President Dan Klindera and Arboricultural Services Manager John Kahon presented a tree care training session about plant growth regulators to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plant Care Volunteers.
June 1: Vice President Dan Klindera and arborist Ross Hassinger presented a lecture about the Emerald Ash Borer to members of the Deerfield Rotary Club.
Volunteer Projects
April 22: Arborist Laura Smies answered tree care questions at the Park Ridge Earth Day, while Arborist Paul Blome participated in the Village of Lindenhurst Earth Day Celebration.
April 22: Vice President Dan Klindera performed as “Morty the Oak” on behalf of The Morton Arboretum at the Lincoln Park Zoo Earth Day Celebration. That’s right: Dan dressed up in a tree costume. There are worse things he could have done.
April 29: Arborist Stan Holat participated in the Warrenville Natural Areas Commission Arbor Day Celebration.
April 29: Vice President Dan Klindera made an encore performance as “Morty the Oak” on behalf of The Morton Arboretum. This time, he brought giggles of glee (and a few squeals of terror) to children attending Arbor Day celebrations in Warrenville and Bolingbrook.
May 20 — 21: Arborists Ross Hassinger, Stan Holat, Mike Provost and Laura Smies hosted an “Ask an Arborist” booth at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
June 25: Arborist Laura Smies hosted an “Ask an Arborist” booth at the Keep Evanston Beautiful Garden Walk.
Special Projects
May 6: Members of the ATCE family, led by Administration Director Jackie Jasperson, participated in the Brain Tumor Run/Walk held in Chicago.
June 24: ATCE participated in the annual Glenview Street Sale where we distributed nearly 1,500 amur maple, white pine, and bur oak seedlings.
Upcoming Events
July 31: ATCE will serve as a sponsor of the annual Celebrity Golf Outing to benefit the Arthritis Foundation. It is sure to be a great day for a great cause.
August 18 — 20: ATCE arborists will host an “Ask an Arborist” booth at the Chicago Botanic Garden during the 29th annual Midwest Bonsai Society Show & Sale.
If you or someone you know would like an arborist to speak, sing, or dance at your next gathering (we can offer a presentation about Emerald Ash Borer, too!) don’t hesitate to ask: call us at 847.729.1963 or send an email to welovetrees@autumntree.com.
RECIPE BOX: Trail Mix
You’ll need all of the energy that you can muster while hunting for the pesky Emerald Ash Borer. This should help: a trail mix recipe that you can tailor to your own tastes. Enjoy!
In a bowl combine 1/4 cup of any 8 of the following items. Store the mixture in an airtight container. Yields 2 cups of trail mix.
Unsalted nuts
Unsalted peanuts
Unsalted cashews
Unsalted almonds
Sunflower seeds
Dried cranberries
Dried cherries
Dried apricots
Raisins
Mini chocolate chips
Mini pretzels
Multi grain Cheerios
Whole wheat Chex cereal
Granola
RESEARCH DEPARTMENT:
Did you know that the USDA Agriculture Research Service and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have developed a partnership in order to collect ash seeds from the Great Lakes Region?
You are a vital part of this project!
Officials ask (implore) you to collect seeds from ash trees in your community and send them to the Rose Lake Plant Materials Center, located in Michigan. For complete information about the program — including instructions for collecting seeds — visit www.ashseed.org. |
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