Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation is starting to make a noticeable impact on our local ash trees.  According to the New Jersey EAB Task Force, the emerald ash borer will kill 99 percent of all ash trees within the next few years.

Since the discovery of emerald ash borer in Michigan in 2002, the beetle has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America. In May 2014, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture confirmed New Jersey’s first detection of the emerald ash borer in Bridgewater in Somerset County and they have now been confirmed in Oakland. 

If a tree is already infested or in poor health, it is be best to remove the tree before it poses a hazard to people and surrounding structures. Residents should identify ash trees on their property and start planning for tree removal. 

A Certified Tree Expert can help residents evaluate, then treat or remove ash trees. Contact the Board of Certified Tree Experts at 732-833-0325 or njtreeexperts@gmail.com (https://njtreeexperts.org/) for a list of professionals serving our area. Permits are required for the removal of any trees 6 inches or more in diameter, but no replacement trees are required for ash trees. The Oakland Shade Tree Commission can be reached at shadetree@oakland-nj.org.

The emerald ash borer is a small, metallic green, non-native invasive pest that infests and kills ash trees—all ash species are susceptible, with the exception of mountain ash. EAB larvae feed on the inner bark and disrupt the movement of water and nutrients, essentially girdling the tree. This insect often infests the upper branches of the tree first and may affect branches as small as 1” in diameter. It takes 2-4 years for infested trees to die, but mortality is imminent. Symptoms include canopy dieback, woodpecker activity, missing bark, D-shaped exit holes, shoots sprouting from the trunk, and S-shaped larval galleries under the bark. More information can be found at www.emeraldashborer.nj.gov.