Emerald Ash Borer and Ash Management

[Peter Smallidge]

Currently there are some ares of NY (and the NE) where the emerald ash borer (EAB) impact has resulted in significant mortality of ash, yet other areas without evidence of mortality. The unfortunate reality is that EAB will almost certainly infest all acres of NY woodlands that have ash, and the result will be widespread mortality. 

There are efforts at finding biocontrol agents, and we can remain optimistic that those will prove effective. These scientists are suggesting that while large mature ash may not be saved by the biocontrol agents there are juvenile ash that will survive.  See more about biocontrol agents here http://www.emeraldashborer.info/biocontrol.php

I've recently written an article / fact sheet on "Ash management in the aftermath of EAB" which I'll link here as soon as it is available.

Also, recently, the University of MN has revised and republished their significant resource on ash management in the context of EAB.  The link is below. Of particular interest, for some, is on their page #12 (the 16th page in the pdf) is a great one-page description of how to identify species within the ash genus Fraxinus. 

Here is the link to the announcement https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/205052 

Here is the "persistent" link to the UMN pdf http://hdl.handle.net/11299/205052 ;

I've seen evidence of feeding on the margins of ash leaflets, but without any other symptoms or signs. It is worth recalling that a symptom is a presentation of a condition (e.g., marginal leaf feeding) that might be associated with more than one causal agent. In other words, it isn't definitive.  A sign is a presentation of a condition that is clearly and only associated with EAB.  Have others found feeding on leaf margins and associated that with some other causal agent? I wonder what time lag there is between EAB adults feeding on leaf margins and the expression of crown thinning, dieback, and woodpecker blonding. The picture below is from central VT. There is a known infestation within 4 miles of the source of this leaf, and a history of firewood movement between the two locations. Other than the leaf margins, there is no indication of EAB's presence.