We began treating trees in 2010 in Springville, as well as East Aurora, and Orchard Park, and are now treating on Grand Island, and Clarence.
EAB is now in the news, with a recently discovered "Cluster" in Cheektowaga, along Genesee Rd.
Amherst is now pro-active in finding ways to combat it, and for those of you living in and around Amherst I have sent a requested estimate to your supervisor's office, for those of you who wish to choose to take on the responsibility for treating your own trees. You can contact me directly here or vaughnslandscapecare@yahoo.com, and I will come and assess your trees, and give you an estimate.
What does EAB look like?
Adult EABs are emerald green beetles that are approximately 1/2 inch long with slender, elongate bodies. EAB larvae can grow up to 1-1/2 inches long and are white or cream colored. They have a brown head and a 10-segmented body with a pair of brown, pincer-like appendages on the last segment.
What are symptoms of EAB?
Symptoms of EAB include canopy dieback, beginning in the top one-third of the canopy, sprouting from the base of the tree and trunk, bark splitting, serpentine galleries below the bark, D-shaped exit holes and increased woodpecker activity.
What does EAB do?
EAB adults typically emerge during June and July, leaving D-shaped exit holes in the bark. After emerging, the adults feed on ash foliage and can live for approximately three weeks. Females lay eggs in the bark of branches and stems. EAB larvae feed on the tissues just below the bark. As they feed, larvae create serpentine tunnels (galleries) that disrupt the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree.
What species does EAB attack?
EAB attacks and kills all species of North American ash, including white, green and black ash. Mountain-ash is not a true ash, so it is not threatened by EAB.
Can anything be done to prevent EAB from killing ash trees?
In areas where EAB is present, insecticide treatments can be used to protect high-value trees, such as large shade trees, historic trees and trees valued by homeowners.
Is there a treatment for EAB?
Insecticide treatments can be effective in protecting trees from EAB. One treatment available for homeowner use is a soil application of imidacloprid (such as Bayer Advanced Garden® Tree and Shrub Insect Control*). The application should be made in May and is most effective on small trees.
Tree care professionals are able to use additional products as trunk injections and trunk and foliage sprays.
Where has EAB been detected?
As of April 2009, EAB has been detected in Michigan (both the upper and lower peninsulas), Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. In Canada, EAB has been detected in Ontario and Quebec.
The following links will take you to a DEC website to show the 2011 EAB Danger Area:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/71542.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/71537.html
The information below, is provided to assist you, in your decision making process.
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive pest introduced from Asia that attacks ash trees. This metallic wood boring beetle was found in Detroit, Michigan in 2002. EAB has killed more than 40 million ash trees in Michigan and tens of millions more in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Pointer insecticide is one of the most widely used and proven-effective insecticides on the market today. Pointer provides reliable systemic insect control on a wide variety of landscape ornamentals. Used by professional arborists/applicators, foresters, and park managers with the ArborSystems Direct-Inject Tree Injection System.
"Pointer" is ArborSystems trade name for Imidacloprid, which is the same chemical insecticide used by others under different names. Research conducted by Nebraska Forest Service, University of Nebraska, Lincoln shows that Pointer, in many cases, delivers higher concentrations of imidacloprid than other products.
http://www.nfs.unl.edu/documents/EAB/EABTmtOptions.pdf
http://www.nfs.unl.edu/documents/EAB/EABTmtOptions.pdf
There are various solutions to combatting these insects, one of which will be described herein. It is the system that we use exclusively to protect your trees, not only from the insects, but from damage which may occur using the drilling method. Our system is the "ArborSystems" Direct Inject Method.
Prevent drilling damage:
With no drilling needed, the Direct-Inject QC™ system prevents long-term wounding, protecting tree health and vitality. The Direct-Inject unit injects chemical directly into the cambial zone, right where the tree can use it. No power, drills, or pumps needed. There is no guarding trees, no waiting for uptake.
1. Outer bark, provides protection.
2. Sapwood, contains active conducting vessels in the outer three rings and is used for water and nutrient movement and food storage. Drilling into sapwood disrupts the negative pressure required for effective nutrient movement.
3. Cambial zone accepts injected chemicals which are then absorbed by the outer ring of sapwood, without damage to the sapwood.
4. The Direct-Inject systems inject chemical directly through the bark without damaging sapwood.
5. Drilling wounds compartmentalize, permanently damaging the tree's ability to move and store nutrients.
Photos below are courtesy of Shigo and Trees, Associates
• Inject insecticide/fertilizer through bark only without damaging sapwood (chemical in cambial zone dyed red for visibility).
• No air enters the sapwood, so chemicals are readily absorbed.
• Vascular system is undisturbed, maintaining nutrient movement.
• Chemical is placed in the cambial zone, where it is used most effectively—you’ll see improved results from less chemical.
• Multiple or annual treatments can be made without injuring the tree.
• Drilling for injections allows air into the sapwood, disrupting translocation and reducing chemical effectiveness.
• Air entering the vascular system disrupts nutrient movement.
• Drilled holes often extend beyond active layers, so chemical is lost in non-active wood where the tree cannot use it.
• Drilling wounds cause permanent damage. Repeated drilling can seriously impact tree vitality.
This tree (located in Williamsville, NY), was drilled, had a plug inserted, and then injected in 2010, by a tree care company in Buffalo.
This picture, taken in May 2011 shows the damage caused by drilling this tree, a subsequent "crack" or splitting of the bark at the drill/injection site. The crack from top to bottom is approximately 6 inches. While the "crack" itself may compartmentalize, and "heal", the damage has already been done, causing an unsightly scar, as well as allowing an opening for other pest invaders to attack this tree. Another mistake that the company made was the injection site location itself, which should have been located approximately 6 to 12 inches above the flare of the trunk to provide better translocation of the insecticide. Below, are similar trees along the same roadway, and all drilled, injected, AND now structurally damaged.
Tree Photos by Vaughns Lawns Landscape Care
