There’s a new bug in town, and this one means business.
Michigan State University Extension Program Coordinator for Oakland County Martha Ferguson said it is “entirely possible” that Emerald Ash Borers could wipe out the entire population of ash trees in the county within the next three years. The Michigan State University Extension Program is currently training master gardeners to be Emerald Ash Borer scouts for Oakland County.
According to information on the website www.michigan.gov, the bug is an exotic new insect detected in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties. It’s an invasive species, originally from Asia and previously unheard of in North America.
The website said Emerald Ash Borers have also affected ash trees in Windsor, and that they do not attack mountain ash. They belong to the metallic wood-boring beetle family, and adults are dark, green metallic in color. The insects are only present from mid-May to late July.
Signs of infestation in ash trees, according to the site, are that the upper third of the tree dies first, followed by the rest of the tree the next year. A large number of shoots and sprouts can be seen arising below the dead portions of the trunk.
“The volunteers will have their assigned areas in the county, and they will be determined from a random sampling of maps,” said Ferguson. “They will walk neighborhoods in teams, looking for ash trees.”
Ferguson said if trees are found that are not infested, the owner will be given information about how to preserve their tree. If a tree is found to be infested with the borers, information will be given on how to treat or get rid of the tree.
“We’re sending (volunteers) out as information people,” explained Ferguson. “People shouldn’t call us to come look at their tree…We have 120 people in training and they will be working this summer and next.”
Ferguson said the threat to ash trees in Oakland County is serious. The Michigan Department of Agriculture has placed a quarantine on all ash trees and ash wood products, including firewood. It is illegal to move ash trees, branches, lumber, firewood, and wood chips larger than one inch in diameter, according to www.michigan.gov.
“If people want someone to come and look at their trees (before the volunteers get there), they should call an experienced arborist,” recommended Ferguson.
“A good place to get a referral would be from the Michigan Forestry and Parks Association, which is the Michigan body of the Arborist Association. They can also contact the Michigan Green Industry Association, the association of landscapers,” she said.
Ferguson said the only remedies that might be effective for infested trees are those applied by arborists.
“The (Emerald Ash Borer) was just found last June,” she said. “Scientists have only been able to see one half of the life cycle. But it’s entirely possible some of the treatments they have now will work.”
“If someone has a beautiful front yard, and the main attraction is a couple of ash trees, looking into some remedies to spare those trees would be worth the money,” added Ferguson.
Volunteers will begin walking through neighborhoods in Oakland County in June. Anyone wishing to receive printed information should contact the Yard and Garden Hotline at (248) 858-0902.
“We can answer some questions, but at this time we don’t have a lot of answers,” said Ferguson. “The investigation has just started.”
For more information on the Master Gardener Program, contact Martha Ferguson at (248) 858-0900.