Emerald Ash Borer

Though the Emerald Ash Borer is no stranger to Hardin County, residents still need to be aware of the borer and its effects on local ash trees. Ash trees in Ada have exhibited signs of infestation.

The Emerald Ash Borer, or EAB, is believed to have been transported to the United States via wood packing material on cargo ships. The insect is native to Russia, China, Japan and Korea. It was first discovered in this country in 2002, when it was found in southeastern Michigan.

Since 2002, EAB infestations have been found in portions of Canada and 13 states, including Ohio. Once an infestation has been confirmed by officials, the county is then marked for quarantine, and it becomes illegal to move ashwood outside the quarantine zone. Hardin County was included in the quarantine zone in the late fall of 2006. All surrounding counties are also in the quarantine zone.

While the main food source for the borer varies in its native lands, it has only been found to infect ash trees in the US. Ash trees in both urban areas and woodlands can be affected.

Ash trees can be identified by looking at the branch arrangement, leaves, and bark. Branches on ash trees will be directly across from each other, though due to death of individual limbs, every branch may not have another directly across. The leaves are compound, which means several leaflets make up one leaf. Ash trees will usually have leaves with 5-11 leaflets. Other trees that are commonly mistaken for ash trees include black walnut, shagbark hickory, elm and boxelder trees. More identification tips, including photos, can be found at www.emeraldashborer.info.

Adult emerald ash borers do eat the leaves of ash trees, but the larvae are the actual culprits of the decimation of ash trees. In the late spring, adult borers emerge and the females lay their eggs within two weeks. The eggs are deposited on the bark of ash trees, and once they hatch, the larvae bore into the bark. They continue to work their way into the tree, reaching the part of the tree where the water and food travel up the tree. Once they eat through this portion, the tree begins to die. The path of the larvae through the tree will create a distinctive S-shaped gallery.

The larvae will continue to feast on the tree for approximately three months, until October. They stay inside the tree throughout the winter, then emerge as adults in the late spring. As adults, the borer has been found to travel at least ½ mile by flight, though many borers are transported in ash firewood.

There are external signs that an ash tree has been infected. As the tree dies, the top of the tree, also known as the canopy, will look as if it is dying from the very top of the tree back down to the trunk. As a last effort at survival, the tree will also begin shooting new tree sprouts from the base of the trunk. The bark of the tree may also split into deeper

grooves. Residents may see the borer itself, which grows to just over an inch long, and is metallic green in color.

The Village of Ada and the Ada Tree Commission has developed an inventory of all ash trees in the tree lawns, and has begun developing a management plan to address the removal of those ash trees. The trees are being monitored, and ash trees in the tree lawns will be removed. The Village will also be sending letters to the property owners at those locations, to make them aware of the tree removal.

Residents who think they may have ash trees on private property will need to be aware of the emerald ash borer infestation, and be informed about the responsible steps to take. Tips for hiring arborists can be found at www.treesaregood.com, and residents are strongly encouraged to avoid allowing just anyone to cut the trees. The Village will be developing and maintaining a list of certified arborists, who are trained to handle the projects correctly.

If residents do hire someone to cut their trees, they need to make sure the company has current insurance and workers compensation in place. If there is no insurance and workers compensation, and there is an accident while they are working on the tree, the homeowner can be held liable for any injuries.

It is illegal to move ash firewood out of the quarantined area.

Information regarding the emerald ash borer, ash trees and the removal of the trees can be found at www.emeraldashborer.com, www.treesaregood.com, or by calling the Ohio EAB hotline at 1-888-OHIO-EAB (1-888-644-6322). Residents may also contact the Village office.