Tree Care Blog

Emerald Ash Borers Discovered in Larimer County

The arboriculture world is abuzz this week with the recent discovery of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in Larimer County. Previously, the only EAB population was located in the city of Boulder. This most recent discovery was found less than 3 miles southwest of Berthoud, making homeowners and forest officials a little nervous. Fort Collins Tree Care is here to help you protect your trees from EAB infestation and we are happy to provide you with a free estimate. Contact us today to get started and in the meantime, continue reading to learn more about this destructive tree pest.

Emerald Ash Borer FAQs

What Is an Emerald Ash Borer?

The emerald ash borer is a type of jewel beetle that is native to northeastern Asia. It is bright metallic green, about ½ inch long and ⅛ inch wide. Its body is long and cylindrical, similar to a bullet. When its wings are spread, you can see the top its bright abdomen, which may be either purple, copper, or brown in color.

Although EABs are beautiful in appearance, they are deadly for all North American true ash species, including the popular autumn purple ash that many people here in Fort Collins choose for landscaping. EABs in the larval stage live under the bark of the tree, cutting off precious water and nutrients as they feed. Without proper treatment, an infested ash tree will die within two to four years. Given that roughly 15% of our urban and forest trees are ash, their recent advancement is certainly concerning.

How Did EABs Spread to Colorado?

So how did these beetles make it from northeastern Asia all the way to Colorado? The first U.S. identification of the EAB was in southeastern Michigan in 2002. Although this is when it was first identified, it is likely that it arrived in the U.S. earlier than that via infected wood pallets and other packing materials. The EAB was first found in Colorado in September 2013, which was likely the result of transporting infected ash wood, wood chips, and other ash products.

What Types of Trees Does It Infest?

The emerald ash borer will infest all true ash species (Fraxinus spp.). In simple terms, that means the beetle attacks green, white, black, and blue ash, as well as any varieties of ash produced in cultivation by selective breeding. Ash trees are very popular in Northern Colorado and Fort Collins, both on public and private property. These beetles have been known to travel more than 600 miles in a short amount of time, so prevention is key. The following tips can help prevent the spread of EAB infestations:

• Don’t move or transport ash firewood and other products from ash trees
• Educate yourself on the symptoms of EAB infestation and inform your neighbors
• Perform frequent inspections for early detection of infestation
• Know where your ash firewood and other ash products are sourced from before accepting them
• Contact a tree care expert with any questions or concerns you have related to EABs

What Are the Symptoms of Infestation?

An EAB infestation may go unnoticed for quite a while, sometimes even a year or more, before a problem is detected. This is because the larvae live beneath the bark of the tree and are not readily visible to the naked eye. It may be a good idea to contact our Fort Collins tree care experts if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Upper twigs and branches thinning
• Leaf loss
• Vertical splits in the bark
• Increased presence of woodpeckers
• S-shaped tunnels beneath the bark
• D-shaped holes about ⅛ inch wide on the exterior of the tree
• New stress sprouts from the lower trunk or branches

Besides EAB, there are other tree pests and some diseases that show some of these same symptoms. If you suspect that your tree is sick or has some type of infestation, it is best to have it inspected by a tree care professional as soon as possible. Failure to act quickly can allow the disease or infestation to spread quickly, making it more difficult to restore your tree’s health.

How Are EAB Infestations Treated?

When it comes to EAB infestations, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are several types of preventative treatments that can effectively ward off an infestation. Preventative treatments are delivered by injecting special chemicals into the soil or tree trunk.

Eliminating an EAB infestation to save a tree is possible, but there are a lot of factors that can affect the efficacy of the treatment. These include soil conditions, the tree’s health, and environmental factors. A specially trained expert like those on staff at Fort Collins Tree Care can inspect your tree to determine the presence of EAB and how advanced the infestation to create either an effective prevention or treatment plan.

Emerald Ash Borer Treatment Fort Collins

Are you ready to take the first step in protecting your ash trees against emerald ash borer infestation? Perhaps you are concerned that one of your trees are already infested and you’d like a professional’s opinion on what steps you should take next? In either case, you can trust that the team at Fort Collins Tree Care is here to help you keep your ash trees healthy and beautiful. Contact us today to request your free estimate — we look forward to helping you protect your trees from EAB.