How to fight the emerald ash borer in Quebec?

There are 126 species of native trees in Canada. The ash tree is one of them and is a real jewel of the local biodiversity. If it were to disappear, it would be a blow to Canada’s natural heritage. The EAB is an insect that threatens ash trees in Quebec and other parts of the country. It could cause real damage. All the more so as it involves significant costs. Treating, removing and replacing diseased trees is expensive. In response to the threat of EAB, it is important to take a variety of actions. So how do we fight it?

The emerald ash borer: a real scourge

The ash borer is an insect belonging to the family of beetles that comes from Asia. It arrived in North America in the early 2000s. This 6-legged bug can be recognized by its metallic green color, its narrow and elongated body.

The EAB is particularly fond of ash trees. Being still in a larval state, the insect will dig galleries in the bark of the tree which has practically no chance of escaping. To have a chance of survival, it must be treated as soon as possible. This makes this bug even more dangerous. All the more so because it moves easily without anyone noticing. It is possible that thousands of trees could be devastated in a short period of time.

Regulations put in place to combat the Emerald Ash Borer

Regulations have been put in place by the CFIA or Canadian Food Inspection Agency. This organization is in charge of the fight against invasive species. This means that moving firewood outside of EAB affected areas is prohibited without prior approval. Violators can be fined up to CAD 50,000.

At the same time, control mechanisms have been implemented in most of the municipalities concerned. This includes the obligation to refer to the municipality’s by-laws before cutting down a tree. Also, if signs of EAB are found, the CFIA or the City must be automatically notified.

How to avoid a borer attack?

If your trees are still healthy, you can take precautions to avoid infestation.

Vigilance in relation to firewood

First, be careful with your firewood. It is, in fact, via firewood that the EAB moves from city to city and from region to region. Here are some effective measures:

• Choose wood that comes from your municipality;
• Check carefully the origin of the wood and be very careful if it comes from an infested area;
• Make sure that your wood is not transported outside the CFIA defined area.

The importance of prevention

“Prevention is better than cure. This is true for the emerald ash borer. Implement a Canadian accredited treatment to protect your trees. Please note that the application of the product must only be carried out by a certified technician.

As a preventative measure, you may also want to consider species other than ash when planting new trees.

How do you get rid of the Emerald Ash Borer?

Unfortunately, the emerald ash borer kills the tree. Nevertheless, it is still possible to slow down its destruction by applying an insecticide treatment. Once again, the application of the product must be handled by a certified technician.

If the tree is too badly affected, it must be felled, bearing in mind that the tree should not be felled during the ash’s propagation season (between mid-March and the end of September). At Arboxygène, we take care of this type of operation. Our technicians will be able to proceed to the cutting of the dead trees. We can also make your garden more beautiful while ensuring that the borer is completely eradicated.