Thursday, September 17, 2015

Ash Trees Dying

Unfortunately the ash tree borer (EAB) is in Connecticut and killing many ash trees.  The mortality rate is near 90% once a tree is infested.  Keep an eye out for ash trees in decline along streets and especially if you have any in your yard.  If you have a healthy ash tree, especially white ash, you should contact an arborist immediately to inspect the trees.  Once the trees are stressed, they will decline rapidly.

-George Fletcher Jr.
 State of Ct Arborist Lic# 62804

Infested white ash trees along Rt 42 in Prospect/Beacon Falls




Beautiful Killers

"Adult EAB beetles are beautiful insects and amazingly good at finding and colonizing ash trees. Unlike many insects, EAB does not appear to produce any long-range pheromones to attract potential mates. Instead, the beetles use their vision and the mix of chemicals emitted by ash leaves, bark and wood to find their host trees and each other. They are particularly attracted to the blend of compounds given off by stressed or injured ash trees and to specific shades of purple and green. Once beetles find an ash tree, they nibble along the margins of leaves throughout their three- to six-week life span. Leaf feeding is important for the beetles to mature, but it has virtually no effect on the trees. After 15 to 20 days of leaf feeding, the females begin to lay a few eggs at a time, tucking them beneath bark flaps or in bark crevices. Many beetles mean many eggs — bad news for the tree when they hatch."
Retrieved from: 
http://www.americanforests.org/magazine/article/will-we-kiss-our-ash-goodbye/


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