In 2018, emerald ash borer, a tiny
wood-boring beetle from Asia, was found in northern Aroostook and York counties
in Maine. Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a threat to all ash trees in North America
and has already done considerable damage to ash in forests and residential
properties across the eastern U.S. In addition to comprising an important part
of our forest ecosystem, the wood from ash trees is valuable for flooring, cabinetry,
hockey sticks and baseball bats. Many streets in many Maine towns are lined
with ash trees and ash trees have been planted in residential landscapes for
shade and to increase property values. In Maine, brown ash is an important part
of the Wabanaki creation story and culture and has been used for generations
for basket weaving.
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| Image of emerald ash borer. University of Maine photo |
Emerald ash borer is
a metallic-green, wood-boring beetle, only 1/2" in length. Adult beetles
feed on the leaves of ash trees, but the major damage to the tree is caused by
the larvae feeding under the bark, making serpentine galleries that, in effect,
"girdle" the tree, preventing the transport of water and nutrients
and resulting in tree mortality within 3 or 4 years of infestation. Since the
beetle itself is small and the larvae feed under the bark and out of sight,
most infestations are identified by signs and symptoms of decline in ash trees.
These include: crown dieback in a vase-shaped pattern in the center of the
crown; splits and cracks in the bark; tiny D-shaped exit holes in the bark
where adults emerge in spring; evidence of severe woodpecker feeding known as
"blonding," with large patches of bark chipped off to reveal the
paler ("blond") wood underneath; and epicormic growth, or branches
that sprout from the trunk below the crown. There are many other causes of ash
decline - native borers, fungal diseases, damage by wind or ice - but if you
are concerned about an ash tree and think it might be infested with EAB, look
for these signs and symptoms ( images at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/caps/EAB/EABsigns.shtml) and report the suspect tree by using
the form at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/caps/EAB/EABreportFORM.shtml or by calling the Maine Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation at (207) 287-2431.
The populations identified in Maine last spring and fall are
most likely a result of natural dispersal from existing infestations in New
Brunswick and southern New Hampshire. EAB can spread only a few miles a year on
its own but can be moved long distances very rapidly in infested timber
products, like firewood. The best chance we have to slow the spread of this
destructive forest pest is to not move firewood - buy local wood where you
intend to burn it! To facilitate this, Maine has joined Firewood Scout, an
online directory of vendors of local firewood. Anyone can locate sources of
local firewood on the Firewood Scout website at firewoodscout.org by
entering the zip code of your location. In addition, local firewood vendors may
list their businesses on the Firewood Scout website at firewoodscout.org/s/ME/.
Currently, there is a
quarantine in effect in Maine that includes all of York County and parts of
Aroostook County in the St John Valley. This means that it is against the law
to move many timber products from these areas without a special compliance
agreement. More information about the quarantine and EAB may be found at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/caps/EAB/index.shtml.
We can all help slow
the spread of this destructive pest by learning how to recognize ash trees and
the signs and symptoms of infestation, by not moving firewood, and by reporting
any suspect trees. If you think you have spotted an infested ash tree,
please report your sighting by using the online form at www.maine.gov/dacf/php/caps/EAB/EABreportFORM.shtml or by calling Maine Department of
Agriculture, Forestry and Conservation at (207) 287-2431.
For more information
about EAB, its life cycle and how to identify signs of infestation; for
information about other invasive forest pests; or to request a presentation on
invasive forest pests for your town, garden club or conservation commission,
please contact Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District at
207-892-4700. And, please, don't move firewood!
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