Protect Your Ash Trees: Spot the Early Signs of EAB

As tiny as the emerald ash borer (EAB) is, boy, it wreaks havoc.

This 0.5” beetle has killed millions of ash trees since arriving on the scene in 2002.

Back then, if too many EAB larvae burrowed in your ash tree, it was likely a goner.

Luckily, we at The Davey Tree Expert Company have learned a lot since then.

In his latest research, Anand Persad, from the Davey Institute, found a new method to detect EAB earlier than ever.

If spotted early, you can treat and usually save your ash tree.

Follow Davey Tree’s simple four-step checklist to identify early EAB warning signs.

1. Fate of the State. See if EAB is in your state by checking out the Department of Agriculture’s EAB map. As of June 2016, this destructive bug has made its way to 25 states.
   
   
2. Identify Your Ash Tree(s). Unsure if you have an ash tree? Ash trees have branches and leaves with 7 to 9 eye-shaped leaflets that grow opposite each other. Each compound leaf has a terminal leaflet.
   
   
3. Make the Break. Healthy tree limbs break in the middle while EAB-infested trees have branches that break close to the trunk. After damaging storms, check where your ash tree limbs are breaking. If branches are breaking near the trunk, seek an EAB consultation immediately. Also, look for splitting bark, broken twigs and branches, a thinning tree canopy, and woodpecker injury.
   
   
4. Treat . If you spot these early symptoms of emerald ash borer, take action today! Or if EAB is in your area, take advantage of Davey’s complimentary ash tree inspection. Treatment of EAB may be much more cost-effective than having to remove a tree later.

Contact your local arborist for a free consultation if you have questions or concerns about EAB.