Davey Tree : Expert Tree and Lawn Care Services : Fighting the Emerald Ash Borer


Fighting the Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an extremely aggressive Asian beetle that has killed millions of ash trees – from vigorous, young trees to established, mature trees.

Think you may have a problem with EAB? Contact your local office today for assistance.


	Emerald ash borer larvae tunnel just under the bark.

Signs of infestation
The majority of damage comes from the EAB larvae, which feed under the bark of ash trees. Their feeding activity hampers the trees’ ability to transport water, sugar and nutrients, and infested trees eventually die. Symptoms include:

D-shaped exit holes and vertical splits in bark
Canopy dieback from the top down
Epicormic branches (or sprouts) on the main trunk and major branches


An adult emerald ash borer is about 3/8" long.

How Davey can help
At Davey, we’re working very hard to combat EAB. We’re confident in our research and technical expertise, provided by the Davey Institute, to help treat specific, significant (or high-value) ash trees.

We’re currently addressing each request on its individual merit. We can’t guarantee protection, but our preventive program of soil, trunk and foliage pesticide treatments, along with our deep-root fertilization and standard pruning/proper cultural practices, may help to prevent (if not greatly minimize) the possibility of EAB infestation in treated trees.

You should know that insecticides aren’t 100 percent effective. Treatments may provide enough control to maintain a tree’s vitality and extend its useful life. Please also be aware that the insecticides currently available require annual application, and despite treatment, some ash trees may succumb to EAB. The USDA and the local government may also remove treated and healthy trees as part of their control strategy.

We believe that our treatments and strategy are sound, but remember that they represent a long-term process with multiple services, year after year. As long as EAB is active in an area, treatments must continue. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to remove an ash tree and replant with a tree species other than ash. For more information, or if your ash trees are exhibiting any of the symptoms listed here, please give us a call. At Davey, we’re committed to doing whatever we can to protect your valuable trees from this destructive pest.