The Emerald Ash Borer Project

The emerald ash borer larva burrows under the bark of an ash tree and feeds on the phloem, the nutrient-rich part of the under-bark that carries sucrose and other nutrients from the roots up through the rest of the tree. This disrupts, and can even destroy, the ability of a tree to sustain itself.

The effects of canopy dieback

Dieback of the canopy is a direct result of this disruption and epicormic shoots (new sprouts that grow from the roots and lower trunk) are the tree’s attempt to bypass the affected areas and survive without the infested sections. Canopy dieback can change the long-standing dynamics of an isolated ecosystem. The increased sunlight that reaches the ground because of the dieback can encourage the growth of other plants, even potentially invasive ones.

If you find an insect that displays these traits, call a local Department of Natural Resources office for confirmation. Failure to do so may result in the loss of many trees in your area and the spreading of these insects to other areas. Photo courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service.

A massive loss of trees

The greatest effect of an emerald ash borer infestation, however, is the death of the ash trees themselves. In an attempt to stem the spread of the EAB and to take care of infested trees, tens of thousands of ash trees have been cut down and destroyed in Chicago and throughout the surrounding metropolitan area. Such a massive loss of trees, especially older trees, is not easily sustainable and creates an imbalance in the ecosystem.

Learn more

The Emerald Ash Borer Info website (open in new tab/window), a collaborative effort among several U.S. states and Canada, is a great online resource for educational materials, reports, and information about the EAB and its effects.

The USDA ‘s interactive map (open in new tab/window) shows the quarantine areas and buffer zones in Illinois. When looking at the map, please note that the dark bubbles signify the 8-mile buffer zone around a confirmed sighting; the medium colored bubbles signify the 16-mile buffer zone; and the light bubbles signify the 24-mile buffer zone. The red line outlines the official quarantine zone.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture maintains a detailed listing of confirmed EAB infestations (open in new tab/window) in Illinois based on county, city, address, and date confirmed.

Is the tree in your yard an ash tree? Examine the following parts of the tree to determine if it is.

Leaves	Seeds	Bark	Branches
Compound leaves, 8-12 inches long Finely toothed or smooth edges 5-11 leaflets Differ among the different types of Ash trees	Present in late fall, early winter Dry, oar-shaped clusters called samaras	Least dependable method Young trees have smooth bark Old trees have a tight diamond pattern	Branches and buds mirror each other Positioned directly across from each other Some may die, leaving a branch or bud without an opposite

Learn more

From the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Ash Tree Identification

From Michigan State University, Distinguishing Ash Trees from other Common Trees

There are various symptoms that present on ash trees that can be readily identified as potential signs of an EAB infestation.

• Canopy die-back
• Epicormic shoots
• Bark splitting
• Increased woodpecker activity/damage

Another sign is glue traps that are placed to test the possibility of a local infestation. They often take the form of large bright purple boxes hanging from the trees. Photo courtesy US Department of Agriculture.

To certify that an infestation is present, further evidence is needed

“D”-shaped exit holes that are exclusive to the emerald ash borer

Serpentine tunnels present in the under-bark, also known as the larval gallery
Photo courtesy USDA Agricultural Research Service

Learn More

Read the Michigan State University Dept. of Entomology's article on the Signs and Symptoms of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Take a virtual nature walk to understand the life cycle of the Emerald Ash Borer.

Prevent or minimize the spread of the EAB where you live:

• Identify ash trees and understand the signs of infestation. If any trees show symptoms, take immediate action.
• Keep ash trees healthy and fertilize appropriately.
• Do not transfer any wood that may have been exposed to EAB. Transporting wood is one of the top ways the species is moving.
• Use over-the-counter proactive insecticides or root treatments to greatly lessen the chance of spreading the EAB.
• Hire professionals to provide treatment to the ash trees you have.

While none of these of these prevention options can claim 100% success, using any of them provides a better chance than nothing being done at all.

If your tree has been infected by the Emerald Ash Borer, do not give up hope; you have options. If you catch the infection early enough, your tree can be cured. If you wait too long, then you may not be able to save your tree.

According to professors working with the North Central Integrated Pest Management center, if your tree has less than 50% of its canopy left alive, then it is most likely too late to save it. Insecticides need to be able to travel up and throughout the tree, and if you have waited too long, the Emerald Ash Borer larvae will have injured the phloem and the xylem to the point that the tree will not be able to carry the insecticide throughout the tree.

Three treatment options

If you decide to treat your infected tree, or decide to take preventive measures because you believe that your tree is at risk of infection, you have three main treatment options. Some you can apply yourself at home; others require professional application.

Soil injections or drenches

• Drenches can be applied as a home remedy
• Injections must be applied professionally
• Drenches are good for a cheap, do-it-yourself fix

Trunk injections and lower trunk sprays

• Lower trunk applications
• Good for trees with no dry, available soil
• Wounds the trunk if injected
• Spray is quick and easy

Protective cover sprays

• Is a preventative measure
• Must be thorough
• Can prevent most of the damage from the EAB

Learn more

Read the Northern Central IPM Center's article, Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from the Emerald Ash Borer

Read PR Newswire's news article on the effectiveness of trunk injections when treating for emerald ash borers

As part of the Alpha Delta Eta Chapter’s Honors in Action project, a team of students led by Joshua Beneze and Erik Morgan explored the topic of invasive species, with particular regard to the KCC area. The species that stood out as the most potentially harmful to the Kankakee and Iroquois counties and surrounding areas was the Emerald Ash Borer.

Utilizing academic research methods, the students developed a public awareness campaign to help educate the local population about the dangers of the EAB and present possible ways of preventing infestations and how to proceed once an infestation has been confirmed.