A little-known invasive pest to most individuals, emerald ash borers (also called EAB) are highly devastating to the ash trees found across the United States. They can cause significant destruction in your yard once an infestation moves in. Fortunately, Marshalltown pest control is ready to help you contain and control this pest before the damage becomes out of hand.
What Are Emerald Ash Borers?
Emerald ash borers are small, metallic-green beetles that grow no larger than half an inch long and an eighth of an inch wide. They were brought into the United States from China via wood packing materials and were first identified in Detroit around 2002. Because the larvae of the emerald ash borer are so destructive to ash trees, quarantine attempts are still ongoing to control the spread of this pest and protect ash trees found throughout the United States.
How Emerald Ash Borers Destroy Ash Trees
While adult emerald ash borers are known to feed on the foliage of ash trees, this causes minor damage compared to how the borer larvae feed. After the adult borers feed and mate, the female will lay eggs on the branches of an ash tree. The eggs hatch and larvae will bore into the ash tree and tunnel underneath the bark to feed; this leaves visible tracks on the tree and interrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Over time, this results in the tree dying off completely, something that can take between two and five years, depending on the health and size of the tree.
Of course, it is vital to protect our ash trees against emerald ash borers and stop the potential spread of this insect to other states, which is why Schendel Pest Control is here to help you out. Contact us at the first sign of this pest on your property, such as splitting bark on ash trees, increased woodpecker activity, thinning or dying trees, or visible tunnel tracks on the bark.
How To Prevent Emerald Ash Borers On Your Trees
Prevention of emerald ash borers is an essential step in keeping this invasive pest away from your ash trees and contributing to the general control of this insect.
- Don’t move firewood from across state lines onto or off your property, as this is an effective form of transport for emerald ash borers.
- Always buy kiln-dried firewood and burn any firewood after buying it instead of leaving it around your property for an extended period.
- Before spring, make sure to burn all firewood to kill off any emerald ash borers that will spread to ash trees when the weather is warmer.
- Put insecticides around your ash trees to prevent this pest from moving onto them – our experts at Schendel Pest Control can help you with this.
If you need assistance with understanding emerald ash borer prevention tips or want to treat your property for this pest, reach out to Schendel Pest Control as soon as possible.
What To Do If You Spot Emerald Ash Borers On Your Property
When you stop emerald ash borers on your property, you should contact Schendel Pest Control. Our pest control experts will be able to help identify the scale of your problem and provide you with effective treatment solutions that protect your ash trees from this invasive pest. Reach out today for more information and reclaim your yard – and your ash trees.