The emerald ash borer has begun to make its mark on ash trees throughout the Collingwood, Ontario area. An exotic beetle, the emerald ash borer was discovered in the summer of 2002 in Michigan and has spread to many areas throughout North America. While the adult beetles simply nibble on ash foliage and cause minimal damage, the beetle larvae feed on the inner bark of the ash trees, harming the tree’s capacity to effective transport nutrients and water.
Your trees may exhibit certain signs if the emerald ash borer has taken hold and caused an infestation. One of the first signs you may notice is thinning in the upper canopy of the tree as the branches start to die. Your trees may also attempt to grow new branches or leaves wherever they still can, a sign that they are stressed by the introduction of the beetle larvae. This new growth may occur at the base of the trunk or on the main tree branches.
In addition to these two symptoms, trees with an emerald ash borer infestation are usually sought-after trees for woodpeckers. At the same time, woodpeckers generally attack any tree full of insect larvae. So, while woodpecker activity can be a sign of an emerald ash borer infestation, it cannot confirm that this is the primary issue.
If you have concerns about an emerald ash borer infestation, call us at WillowStone right away for a comprehensive assessment of your trees. We can implement solutions that can protect your trees moving forward and help you fight off the effects of a devastating infestation.