Ash Borer- The tree damager

The inevitable arrival of the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that has wiped out entire populations of ash trees is spreading widely and causing extensive destruction.

It has killed a large number of ash trees in North America and poses a major economic and environmental threat to urban and forested areas across Canada and the United States.

The emerald ash borer is native to China and eastern Asia. It was found in North America in 2002. In May 2002, it was discovered in southeastern Michigan in the United States and in July 2002 it was found in Essex County in Ontario. Like some other exotic pests that affect plants and trees, it is believed to have been accidentally introduced to North America in imported wood packaging or crating material

The beetle is metallic green in color and is 8.5 to 14.0 millimeters long. While the back of the insect is an iridescent, metallic green, the underside is a bright emerald green. The body is narrow and elongated, and the head is flat. The eyes are kidney-shaped and usually black.

Many infestations began when people moved infested ash trees from nurseries, logs, or firewood to other areas that did not have infestations. The emerald ash borer also spreads naturally through a beetle flight. Research indicates the adult can fly up to 10 kilometers, but generally does not stray from the immediate area when it emerges.

The leafy canopy of infested ash trees will begin to look thin. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) chews through the tree’s water and nutrient-conducting tissues, strangling the tree. If there is a high population of EAB in the tree, the leafy canopy in ash trees will start to die. A third to a half of the branches may die in one year. Most of the canopy will be dead within 2 years of when symptoms are first seen. Sometimes ash trees push out sprouts from the trunk after the upper portions of the tree die. The adult beetles will leave a “D”-shaped hole in the bark, roughly 1/8 inch in diameter when they emerge in June.

EAB is now considered the most destructive forest pest ever seen in North America. The scope of this problem will reach the billions of dollars nationwide if not dealt with.

Ash trees provide many benefits within urban environments, such as increased property values, windbreaks, temperature regulation, pollution abatement, runoff prevention, and provision of wildlife habitat. With extensive ash tree mortality caused by EAB, the cost of replacing such services can be immense for municipalities.

Damages reported were as follows:

Ash borer to cost Mitchell millions

Mark Andersen │ May 11, 2018

The pending death of an estimated 8,000 ash trees in Mitchell will be tragic, but the millions of dollars needed to address those dead trees will compound the disaster.

Sioux Falls will be looking at the death of its 87,000 ash trees over the next decade. Ball estimates Mitchell has 8,000 ash trees, based on its proportionate size.

His ballpark estimate for removing Mitchell’s ash once they die hovers around $5 million. He estimates it would cost $1.6 million every two years to treat Mitchell’s ash trees with insecticide.

Invasive beetle wiping out city ash trees

Sharon Roznik │ May 14, 2016

The emerald ash borer is widespread throughout Fond du Lac, said the city’s arborist, Brian Weed.  So far, the city has treated 344 trees, and private residents have adopted 98 trees to care for on city terraces.

The ash borer could kill more than 99 percent of the ash trees in the state, experts say, which would account for more than 725 million trees and more than 20 percent of the state’s urban forests, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Insecticides and some biological control practices like exploration for natural enemies are being implemented but these are proved to be ineffective.

We need a solution that is effective, eco- friendly and easy to use.

The unique product  Combirepel™ manufactured by C Tech Corporation is an anti-insect aversive which repels insects.

Combirepel™ works on the mechanism of repellency. It temporarily inhibits the mating cycle of the insects. The product impairs the ability of the insects to reproduce, that is the insects will not lay eggs or the laid eggs will be infertile. The product causes feeding disruption in an insect by triggering an unpleasant reaction within the insect which might try to feed on the application.

The product temporarily blocks the reproduction system of the insects by hindering the release of the vital hormones for growth.

Combirepel™ is an extremely low concern, low toxic, nonhazardous, non-carcinogenic and non-mutagenic insect aversive. It does not kill or cause harm to insects as well as to the environment which indirectly helps to maintain the ecological balance.

 Combirepel™ is available in the form of the masterbatch, which can be incorporated into the polymeric applications like polymeric tree guards, pipes, etc.

The product available in the form of liquid concentrate can be mixed in paints in a predetermined ratio and be applied on the fences in the garden to keep the ash borer away from these places.

Our product in the lacquer form can be applied topically to the applications. The lacquer is compatible with most of the surfaces like wood, concrete, metal, polymer, ceramic, etc. The lacquer can be applied on the trunks of trees thus protecting it from damage.

The lacquer can be applied to the tree trunks protecting it from the attacks. The product is also effective against other pests thus protecting the trees from other pest attacks.

Combirepel™ is thermally stable and does not degrade on exposure to heat and sunlight. It does not kill or harm the insect but repels them. It does not volatilize and does not degrade the soil. It is RoHS, RoHS2, ISO, REACH, APVMA, NEA compliant and FIFRA exempted.

Contact us at technical.marketing@ctechcorporation.com to keep the pests away.

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