The Emerald Ash Borer is a wood boring insect that kills Ash trees. They attack healthy Ash trees and kill them in one to four years, depending on their size. Adult beetles begin to emerge from infested trees around mid-May, because they have flat backs and rounded bellies their emergence holes are “D” shaped (honest). On average the female beetle lays roughly seventy-five eggs individually on the bark of trunks and branches of Ash trees. Eggs could be laid from mid-May through mid-August. The eggs hatch in about a week and the larvae tunnel under the bark, feeding and tunneling in the cambium area. This disrupts the transport of water and nutrients within the tree and branches begin to die as feeding progresses. Most EAB pass the winter as larvae inside the tree and then live two to four weeks as adult beetles once they emerge.
It is not yet known if trees already damaged by borers can be helped with insecticide treatments though it is recommended that if you have an infected tree with 50% or more canopy dieback it be felled and chipped to 1” or less. Dead trees that remain standing can pose a serious risk. Quarantine has been issued on all ash trees and ash wood products in Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw and Wayne Counties to prevent and control the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. Simply put it is illegal to move ash trees or its’ products, including firewood out of these areas unless certified for movement by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA). The closest marshaling yard accepting dead Ash wood is the City of Pontiac Landfill and Compost Site at 575 Collier Road (call first to confirm acceptance). At this time there are no reimbursable or matching programs available to assist you with the cost of removing these trees.
Videos and bulletins are available at the Orion Township Library. State of Michigan Information Link
Phragmities (frag-MY-teez), also known as common reed, is a perennial, wetland grass that can grow up to 15′ in height and is replacing 3′ tall patches of cattails which are valuable to local fauna. Newly established growth is easiest to control with frequent brush cutting. Burning must be administered by professionals. A DNRE permit is required for herbicide application below the high water mark, even in a dry season. For more information on this and other invasive species, click here. To view photos of Phragmites in Michigan, click here.