The Emerald Ash Borer beetle is a non-native invasive insect that attacks and kills most varieties of ash trees.
Adult EAB beetles lay their eggs on ash trees in the summer. When the eggs hatch into larvae, they tunnel under the tree's bark to feed. The tunnels prevent the flow of water and nutrients, causing the tree to die. As larvae, they are located between the bark and sap wood. As adults, EABs eat ash tree leaves. Both of these actions, including the fact that EABs do not have any natural predators, lead to infestation and eventual death of the tree (in approximately 1 to 4 years).
In order to deal with the threat posed by EAB, the City of Cornwall's EAB management plan (see below) involves a combination of monitoring, treatment, ash tree removal and replacement, and public education.
Tree removal: Ash trees in the community that have been marked with an orange line on the trunk and an information sign posted on the tree will be removed. When the tree is removed, all limbs will be chipped and wood will be removed off site. The stump will be removed at a future date and if space permits, a new tree will be planted.
Tree injection: Ash trees in the community that have been marked with a green dot at the base of the trunk are candidates to be treated with TreeAzin to protect it against the EAB. TreeAzin is a systemic insecticide injected into the tree's bark to kill EAB larvae feeding on the tree's tissues. It does not pose any health risk to people, pets or wildlife and degrades naturally. It is injected in the tree every year for 2 years than skip a year, then injections for the next 2 years. This is the latest updated change for injections.
Please click here to see the Ash Tree Removal Notice.
Please click here to see the City of Cornwall Tree Planting List.
Please click here to see the March 24, 2014 Report to Council.
Please click here to see the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.
Emerald Ash Borer Frequently Asked Questions
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Dead branches or discoloured foliage which can be observed during late summer. Feeding by the larvae kills branches and eventually the trees (approx. 1-4 years). See Figure 1.
Epicormic shoots: These shoots are also called suckers, water sprouts or witches broom and are produced on the tree trunk and roots when the tree is under stress. They can sometimes be found in the tree crown, on stems and on larger branches. Not all trees attacked by the Emerald Ash Borer develop epicormic shoots. However, under the right conditions and intensity of attack by the beetle, they can develop and grow quickly. See Figure 2.
Woodpeckers feed on the larvae under the bark. Look for increased Woodpecker feedings or signs of their robing in the bark. See Figure 3.
Close examination of the bark may reveal D-shaped holes. When new adults emerge from the tree they create this hole to leave the tree. These holes are approximately 3.4 to 4 mm wide. See Figure 4.
Vertical splits of the bark of 7 - 10 cm are often present over larval galleries. These are often more noticeable on young trees that do not already have splits from growth-related expansion. See Figure 5.
If the bark is peeled back S-shaped tunnels may be visible. This is from the larva feeding between the bark and sap wood. See Figure 6 and 7.
Contact Us
Larry Legue
Parks & Landscape Supervisor
Box 877, Cornwall ON, K6H 5T9
Phone: 613-930-2787 ext. 2239
Fax: 613-930-7448
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