Frequently Asked Questions:
EAB in Iowa – May 2015
1. What is the Emerald ash borer?
Small insects – ½ ” long x 1/8” wide
Larval feeding ‘slowly’ kills the tree
because it can’t circulate nutrients
2. What does EAB eat?
•
•
•
•
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Green ash
White ash
Black ash
Blue ash
Pumpkin ash
Common ash selections…
White Ash
• ‘Autumn Applause’
• Autumn Purple®
• Northern Blaze™
• ‘Rosehill’
• Skyline ®
• Windy City™
Green Ash
• ‘Bergeson’
• Cimmaron ®
• ‘Marshall Seedless’
• ‘Patmore’
• Prairie Spire™
• ‘Summit’
White
fringetree, Chionanthus
virginicus (Ohio, Oct. 15, 2014)
20+ species including
F. chinensis
F. mandshurica
3. Where is EAB from?
EAB likely introduced in the 1990’s on
wood packaging material
originating from Asia
4. How did it get to Iowa?
People move EAB
5. Should I be concerned about EAB?
Tree mortality
is essentially
complete
Placeholder Slide
6. How do I know I have an ash tree?
Two sources to check on tree identification:
•
https://store.extension.iastate.edu/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=1482
Common Problems of Ash Trees
• www.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/tree_id.html
Green ash
White ash
7. How do I know if my ash tree is infested?
• Thinning crown,
dying branches
7. How do I know if my tree is infested?
• Epicormic growth,
water sprouts,
suckers
7. How do I know if my tree is infested?
• Adult feeding
notches
margins of
leaflets
D. McCullough, Michigan State
7. How do I know if my tree is infested?
• Woodpecker
activity
Woodpecker activity
7. How do I know if my tree is infested?
D-shaped
exit hole
S-shaped
larval feeding
8. For counties not yet known to have
EAB, who can help me determine if my
ash tree is infested?
• State Entomologist: 515-725-1465
• Iowa DNR Forestry: 515-725-8453
• ISU Extension: 515-294-1101
9. Who should be thinking about
treating ash trees?
• Within 15 miles of a
known infestation and
the ash tree is healthy
• Outside 15 miles –
treatment may be
premature
10. EAB Management Options
PM 2084
EAB chemical control (continued)
• Healthy, vigorously growing, and
valuable to your landscape
• Must be done yearly for the life of tree
• One active ingredient (emamectin
benzoate) is injected every other year
• Preventive treatments most effective;
curative may work if less than 30%
dieback of the canopy
EAB chemical control (continued)
• Ash trees within 15 miles of confirmed
EAB site are at risk of EAB attack;
preventive treatments suggested
within this risk zone
• Based on recommendations from
EAB researchers at Michigan State
University and Ohio State University
EAB chemical control (continued)
• Systemic insecticides require time
and active tree growth prior to adult
EAB activity:
–soil-injections 4-8 weeks
–trunk injections 2-4 weeks
• Spring application shown to be most
effective for most preventive products
EAB chemical control (continued)
• Homeowner treatments for ash trees
up to 60” circumference (20”dbh) for
soil treatments
• Granular applications for ash trees up
to 36” circumference (12”dbh)
• Homeowner applications once/year
• Larger trees should be treated by
certified pesticide applicator
Canopy sprays
not recommended
•
•
•
•
Limited effectiveness
Equipment needs
Spray drift likely
Possible adverse
effects to nontargets
11. Pesticide sales offers?
• For spring treatments, if you live within
15 miles of a confirmed EAB infested site,
get estimate for the treatment. Obtain an
additional estimate before any work is done
• If you live outside the risk zone, thank them
for their interest and keep their information
on file
12. Where has EAB been found in Iowa?
2014:
• Appanoose Co.
• Boone Co.
• Black Hawk Co.
• Bremer Co.
• Jasper Co.
• Henry Co.
• Lucas Co.
• Mahaska Co.
• Marion Co.
• Monroe Co.
• Muscatine Co.
• Story Co.
• Wapello Co.
2010:
• Allamakee Co.
2013:
• Des Moines Co.
• Jefferson Co.
• Cedar Co.
• Union Co.
2015:
• Clinton Co.
• Dallas Co.
• Keokuk Co.
• Polk Co.
13. EAB response plan?
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/pme/
EmeraldAshBorer.html
Or just “Google” ISU PSEP EAB
14. What does EAB quarantine mean?
• Stop movement of infested
ash materials (logs, trees,
firewood, wood chips)
• IDALS and USDA APHIS
works with commercial wood
products industries to comply
with quarantine
15. How many counties in Iowa
have been quarantined?
• As of February 4, 2014, the Iowa
Department of Agriculture and Land
Stewardship quarantined all 99
counties in Iowa for emerald ash borer
16. Disposal of infested ash wood?
• Iowa residents are asked to use or
dispose of EAB infested wood within
the quarantined areas
• Contact your local government or
county extension office if you have
questions
17. General recommendations
for communities?
• Iowa Department of Natural
Resources – Forestry Bureau
–Tivon Feeley (Forest Health)
515-725-8453
–Emma Hanigan (Urban Forester)
515-725-8201
18. Current EAB information?
• National EAB Web site:
www.emeraldashborer.info
• ISUE’s Web site:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/
psep/EmeraldAshBorer.html
19. Who is a local contact?
Your County Extension office!