Emerald Ash Borer

Funding for Residents to Combat Emerald Ash Borer
The Virginia Department of Forestry has a new cost-share program that will cover a portion of the chemical treatment needed to protect healthy Ash trees against Emerald Ash Borer; you must still pay for at least 50% of the treatment costs and the treatment must be performed by a Virginia State Certified Pesticide Applicator.  You must apply to participate in this program and meet certain criteria for your application to be approved- you can download the application here.

Applications will be accepted in three batches, the first application is due 2/15/18, the second is due between 3/1/18-4/16/18, and the final application is due between 5/1/18-6/15/18.  Please contact Meredith Bean at the Virginia Department of Forestry with questions concerning the program: (434) 220-9034, Meredith.Bean@dof.virginia.gov.  Once you complete sections 1-3 of the application, please contact your local VDOF foresters here. Please contact City Arborist, Dan Spoden on (703) 257-8374 with questions about EAB in in the City of Manassas or for help determining if your Ash tree is healthy enough for treatment

Your Ash trees are still at risk
Emerald Ash Borer1The infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer(EAB) continues to spread across the US since its arrival in 2002.

EAB is a highly destructive, invasive beetle that has killed millions of ash trees in the US and Canada. Ash trees comprise approximately 1.7 percent of Virginia’s forests by volume, which amounts to roughly 187 million ash trees, all susceptible to EAB.

What does it look like?
Emerald Ash Borer2The adult Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beetle has the following characteristics:

  • Bright, metallic green
  • ½” long
  • flattened back
  • purple abdominal segments beneath wing covers


Emerald Ash Borer3Adult beetles are most active during the summer and early fall. If you see the beetle or any signs
of infestation, you need to report it immediately. During the late summer, fall and winter months,
the beetle’s larvae tunnel deep into the trees they infest. The EAB larvae are usually hidden from
sight under the bark, they have the following characteristics:

  • Creamy white, legless
  • Flattened, bell-shaped body segments
  • A pair of small appendages near the end of its body

What does the damage look like?
Emerald Ash Borer4   Emerald Ash Borer5   Emerald Ash Borer6

  • Tree canopy will die back
  • Sprouting through the roots and bark
  • Vertical bark splitting
  • "S" channeling or galleries underneath the bark
  • "D" shaped exit holes
  • Increased woodpecker activity and damage
How does it spread?
EAB adults are strong flyers, but most of them only fly short distances (about 1/2 mile). So they don’t spread far on their own. Most new infestations are caused by people unknowingly taking infested ash to an uninfested area through firewood,logs, stumps, branches of almost any size, composted or uncomposted chips and nursery stock.

What can you do?
Examine your trees for signs of infestations such as canopy dieback, epicormis shoots, S-shaped galleries, vertical bark slits and D-shaped exit holes. If you observe beetles or evidence of EAB infestations, report your sighting to the City Arborist as soon as possible. If possible, take digital pictures of the insect and damage to your trees.

Treating your trees can be costly. Please make sure that you have as much information as
possible to help you correctly identify damage to your trees and find a professional arborist who can treat or remove your affected trees. 

For more information on the Emerald Ash Borer: 
Call City Arborist Daniel Spoden on 703-257-8374 or visit the USDA website: www.stopthebeetle.info

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