Beware: The Emerald Ash Borer

One of the less than pleasant aspects of summer is the emergence of insects. Big or small, these pesky little critters can become a major source of frustration, not to mention a serious lawn care problem. Some, like mosquitoes, like to feast on humans.  While others, such as wasps and bees, are fairly live-and-let-live – unless you make them angry.  Some, like dragonflies, are attracted to the wet conditions provided by your sprinkler systems in Burlington.  And then there are those types that like to feed on your landscape.  The Emerald Ash Borer is one of these pesky types.  If you suspect the Emerald Ash Borer is plaguing your yard, don't wait to take action. Now's the time to contact Nutri-Lawn's Burlington pest control service to get rid of the problem.  Here are some of the signs and symptoms of an Emerald Ash Borer infestation.

What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
The Emerald Ash Borer is a type of beetle that is native to Southeast Asia.  It migrated over to North America and was first discovered in Southeast Michigan in 2002.  Soon after, it quickly crossed the border, and now it is feasting on yards throughout Ontario. 

The Emerald Ash Borer prefers to infest and ultimately kill trees.  This annoying little pest has made the rounds, covering much of Ontario, including Burlington.  Luckily, Nutri-Lawn’s Burlington pest control services are here to help.

Identifying the Emerald Ash Borer
While you can call Nutri-Lawn’s Burlington pest control to investigate, we believe in empowering our customers with knowledge.  Here are the physical characteristics of the Emerald Ash Borer:

• Metallic green-blue colour
• 8.5-14.0 mm in length
• 3.1-3.4 mm wide
• A flat head
• Their larvae are creamy white in colour and have a small brown head
• The Emerald Ash Borer can grow up to 26-32 mm long at full maturation

If you suspect these bugs have made a home in your landscape, contact the experts in Nutri-Lawn’s sprinkler system in Burlington department.

Signs that You’re in Need of Pest Control
The Emerald Ash Borer likes to infest any true ash trees and does so by limiting the water and nutrient supply to the tree.  The female will deposit her eggs deep in the trunk of the tree and the eggs generally hatch within 1-2 weeks.  The depositing of the eggs will happen near the end of May. 

The larvae will then create galleries under the bark of the tree and feed off the tree’s nutrients.  Since the ash tree’s source of food is being redirected, the end result is the death of the tree. 

Since you likely don’t want to go delving into the trunk of your tree in order to track down these pests, here are some external signs that you can keep an eye out for.  If you recognize them, contact Nutri-Lawn’s sprinkler systems in Burlington – we also deal with Burlington pest control.

• Reduced foliage
• Yellowing of leaves
• Branch growth at the bottom of the tree’s trunk.
• An increase in woodpecker activity.
• Small d-shaped exit holes

Keep in mind that signs of tree infestation do not appear for years after the infestation and can be mistaken for winter stress or other pests. 

This summer, keep your trees healthy and safe.  If you suspect your ash tree has an Emerald Ash Borer infestation, contact Nutri-Lawn Burlington to request a quote.