Tree stories
EAB In Asheville
Unfortunately no, the EAB is not a new epic local brew but a parasitic beetle sweeping the nation. EAB, short for the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, Agrilus planipennis, infests Ash trees only. We are sorry to say that we have just recently had to remove our first Ash tree due to an infestation. EAB first came to the area from the north in late 2016.Removing an infested tree is a delicate process, as the beetle has compromised the strength of the tree by eating into the sapwood. Extra caution should be taken, and a crane makes it all the safer for the climber.
It is the larvae of the beetle who is causing the lethal damage to the Ash trees. Adult beetles lay their eggs on the tree's inner bark, and when the eggs hatch the larvae tunnel into the trunk. This effectively girdles the tree, disrupting the tree from feeding itself. D-shaped exit wounds are visible on the bark from where the mature beetle finally emerges. Another sign that your Ash tree may be infested is if you seem to be hosting a happy population of beetle-eating birds including woodpeckers and Nuthatches. If an Ash tree has visible tip die-back then it would be a good idea to have the tree inspected for EAB. Treatment is a possibility if caught early enough.For more information take a look at this website http://www.emeraldashborer.info/
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