Be Alert to Sick and Dying Trees

Identify the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Asian Longhorn Beetle – by EARTH Center, Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension Office

Central Park in New York City - Image from centralpark.com

In a series of recent studies, scientists claim that exposure to plants and parks have surprising health benefits.  Scientists found that when people swap their everyday life confines with a few hours in more natural surroundings, they could experience an increase in immune function.

Plant Defense Mechanisms Benefit Humans

Plants emit airborne chemicals called phytoncides that protect them from rotting and getting attacked by insects.  These same phytoncides seem to benefit humans when exposed to them. One study conducted on 280 people in Japan showed that exposure to plants yielded lower pulse rates, lower blood pressure, and lower concentrations of cortisol (hormone related to stress).

White Blood Cell Count Increase

Other studies have shown that visiting parks and forests seem to raise levels of white blood cells. One study conducted in 2007 showed men who took two-hour walks in the forest over two days had a 50-percent spike in levels of natural killer cells. Another study showed that when women are exposed to phytoncides, their white blood cell count increased for about a week.

What are you waiting for? Get outside!  Go enjoy our urban and natural forests!

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Original article from the NY Times:

The Claim: Exposure to Plants Can Boost Immunity
By: Anahad O’Connor
Original date of publish: July 5, 2010

What will the funding be used for?

N.Y. Senator Charles Schumer - Image from WHEC.com

“Invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer are a blight on our economy and our ecosystem, with the potential to wreck havoc for businesses in a number of industries, including furniture makers, lumber mills and sporting goods manufacturers,” said Schumer. “Emergency funding from the federal government now will save taxpayers in Ulster County from spending millions in future clean up costs as a result of the devastation, we need to attack this head on before it spirals out of control.”

Schumer plans to use the $1.25 million to fund three different programs to help stop the spread of EAB.

Community Assistance Funding

Schumer pushed for approximately $500,000 for community assistance funding.  Funds will be needed for citizen outreach and education, municipal preparedness planning, street tree inventories, staff training, and equipment purchases.

Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM)

Schumer requested an additonal $250,000 in funding to Slow Ash Mortality (SLAM), NY’s response plan which is consistent with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National EAB Program Manual.   The program will incorporate  a variety of tools and techniques to slow the spread of ash mortality.

Outreach & Enforcement Efforts

Finally, the Senator requested another $500,000 for outreach and enforcement efforts.  Community leaders, homeowners, forest landowners, and anyother stakeholders effected by EAB all need information and guidance on how to prevent EAB and how to identify infestations.

What’s Emerald Ash Borer?

Adult Emerald Ash Borer - Image from ci.vandalia.oh.us

The Emerald Ash Borer is an invasive tree pest native to Asia. First discovered in Michigan in 2002, it has spread to 14 states including Canada, and killed over 30 million trees. It is believed the pest was transported here from Asia via woodpacking material. The beetle’s larva, burrows through the transport tissue of an ash tree distrupting the flow of water and nutrients essential to the tree’s health. Trees begin to die two to three years after the initial infestation.

Where’s EAB in New York currently?

To date, the tree killing  Emerald Ash borer  has been found in seven New York counties including Cattaraugus, Steuben, Ulster, Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, and Greene counties.

Current EAB Infestations in New York - Image from dec.ny.gov

More on Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer found in Knox County, Tennessee

What is Emerald Ash Borer?

Adult Emerald Ash Borer - Image from ci.vandalia.oh.us

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an exotic, invasive insect native to Asia, and was first detected in Michigan sometime  in 2002.   It is believed EAB was imported to the states from Asia via wood packing material. EAB larvae burrow under an ash tree’s bark creating galleries which disrupt the flow of water and nutrients essential to the tree’s health. If left untreated, EAB infestations ultimately lead to the tree’s death. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length while one-eighth inch wide and will only fly from April until September. EAB Life Cycle Video

Tenn. Agricultural Commissioner is prepared

State agricultural commissioner, Ken Givens said, “We knew EAB could potentially reach Tennessee, and we’re prepared to help slow the spread of the infestation and protect our forest resources.” Givens continued, “We will be working closely with federal officials and other stakeholders to determine the extent of the infestation and to take steps to limit its spread.

What’s next for Tennessee’s Ash?

TDA urges residents not to transport firewood - Image from doacs.state.fl.us

Like many other infested states, Tennessee’s Department of Agriculture plans to issue a quarantine in Knox and Loudon counties prohibiting the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, ash timber and other materials that would spread Emerald Ash Borer.  Furthermore, members of the TDA will begin to survey ash trees to assess the severity of the infestations.

What’s at stake?

According to the TDA, Tennessee is home to 10 million urban ash trees that are at risk from EAB.  This could potentially amount to a $2 billion loss in value to the state.  Additionally, there’s an estimated 261 million ash trees on public and private properties valued as high as $9 billion.

What can you do?

Agricultural officials ask residents to help mitigate the spread of the invasive pest. Residents can participate by not transporting firewood within or out of Tennessee.  Promise to Not Move Firewood. Officials also ask residents to watch for signs of EAB. Residents can visit www.TN.gov/agriculture/eab for an online symptoms checklist.  You can report a discovery at this website or call TDA’s Regulatory Services Division at 1-800-628-2631.

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Other EAB Posts

Ash trees line Guardian Boulevard in Cleveland, Ohio - Image by Lisa Dejong

Due to the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer, thirty-eight ash trees lining West 50th street in Cleveland, OH have been saved from unnecessary removals. This is a small number compared to the 900 ash trees removed in Cleveland, but it means a lot to the residents in this neighborhood. Residents from the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood are satisfied after a 3 year battle against city mandates to chop the valued ash trees down.

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), native to Asia, is thought to have been imported into the states by wood packing material.  EAB larvae burrow through an ash tree’s transporting tissue, disrupting the flow of water and nutrients, and in turn end up killing it.

The ash trees are “one of the reasons I purchased the house,” said West 50th street resident, Matthew Fehrmann.

A Trunk Injection Solution

As of yet, Cleveland has removed 900 trees throughout the city. However, yesterday Cleveland steered away from their initial strategy and proceeded to use a trunk injection alternative.  Arborjet representative Rob Gorden injected  38 ash trees on West 50th Street in an effort to mitigate the spread of Emerald Ash Borer.

This trunk injection alternative has been researched by major universities and its methodology is being used in both Chicago and Milwaukee areas to treat trees from Emerald Ash Borer.

What is Trunk Injection?

During trunk injection, insecticides are administered into holes drilled into a tree’s trunk. Upon injection, formulation spreads throughout the entire tree for about four weeks. The trunk injection alternative yields two-year residual control from Emerald Ash Borer.  Arborjet will supply the insecticide to West 50th street for 10 years, free of charge. Contact Arborjet to see what can be done in your community.

West 50th street resident, Heather Tonsing Volosin says,
“I can’t believe it’s happening. I’m thrilled and really thankful the city decided to do this.”

Read the Full Story by Everdeen Mason

The Plain Dealer
“Residents in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood win battle to save ash trees”
Original Date of Publish – July 8, 2010

Arborjet Methodology

Arborjet, a Massachusetts based company, has spent 5 years re-engineering a fifty year old tree-injection technology to make it suitable for 21st century environmental regulations.  While most insecticides are generally sprayed on trees or applied to the soil, the Arborjet system can be compared to an inoculation device for trees.  Medicament is injected directly into the vascular system of a tree and flows throughout its branches and leaves.  The medicament is sealed into the  tree through the use of an Arborplug, which limits impact on the environment.

Arborjet Recognized in the Mid-West

Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain - Image from brighamandwomens.org

Arborjet’s technology has quickly made a name for itself treating trees in cities like Cleveland, Chicago, and Milwaukee for Emerald Ash Borer.  Arborjet technology treats trees in Worcester and now may show up in Boston since the Asian longhorned beetle was discovered on the grounds of Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. The hospital and surrounding area, which is in extreme close proximity to the world-renowned Arnold Arboretum, is in the process of be surveyed by the USDA.  The 10-square-mile area around Faulkner is home to around 100,000 hard woods vulnerable to ALB damage.

Save Trees While There’s Still Time

Chief Operating Officer of Arborjet, Russ Davis, hopes if needed, Arborjet can help — before it’s too late.

Upon injection, “The insecticide stays in the outer rings, which is where the tree brings its water and nutrition from the ground,” Davis explains. “Once the beetle has entered the tree, it can tunnel into the center of the tree, where it won’t be in the area that the medicament occupies. The medicament needs to be there before the beetle attacks the tree.”

Read the Full Story by Peter Howe of NECN

“Arborjet’s precision weapon against invasive beetles”

Original Date of Publish: July 13, 2010

Related Articles:
Asian Longhorned Beetle Found in Boston
Trees Injected in Efforts to Stop Beetles
Arborjet Helps the USDA fight the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Emerald Ash Borer Management Options from Iowa State University Extension on Vimeo.

What is Emerald Ash Borer?

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an exotic, invasive insect  native to Asia, and was first detected in Michigan sometime  in 2002.   It is beleived EAB was imported to the states from Asia via wood packing material. EAB larvae burrow under an ash tree’s bark creating galleries which  disrupt the flow of water and nutrients essential to the tree’s health thus killing the tree.

Iowa’s first sighting

Destructive S-shaped galleries created by EAB larvae - Image from Michigan Department of Agriculture

This first sighting of EAB in Iowa was the result of a collaborative effort for  searching for the invasive pest since 2003.   Since then, efforts included visual surveys, sentinel trees, trap surveys, nursery stock inspections, sawmill/wood processing site visits and hundreds of educational programs. A quarantine is pending from the Iowa Department of Argriculture and Land Stewardship which would prohibit the movement of firewood, ash nursery stock, ash timber or any other article that could further spread EAB.  Iowa State University Extension released a news article that provides EAB management recommendations for homeowners and commercial applicators.

What’s at stake?

Emerald Ash Borer has killed millions of ash trees in various sizes in neighborhoods and woodlands throughout the Midwest. The ash species is one of the most abundant native trees species in North America. According to sources, Iowa has an estimated 58 million rural ash trees and approximately 30 million more in urban areas.

What you can do to help

Ash tree in the Summer - Image courtesty of hotgardens.net

Don’t transport firewood. The transportation of firewood throughout Iowa and elsewhere in the United States poses the the greatest threat to  spread EAB further.  Areas currently infested are under quarantine by stated and federal authorities. However unknowing campers visiting Iowa have the potential to transport infested firewood to spark further outbreaks within the state. Iowan officials urge residents of the state not to transport firewood and to burn it where it in the area where it was purchased.

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EAB Life Cycle

More on EAB

Worcester, MA.- Aftermath of Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation

Female Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle, an invasive insect which forced the city of Worcester, MA to remove 27,000 trees in 2008, has now been spotted in the state’s capital, Boston. The tree-killing insect was found on six trees on the grounds of Faulkner Hospital in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. The six infested red maples were removed today at 5 a.m. from the hospital grounds, but there are no immediate plans to cut down any more trees. Teams of experts will proceed to check tens of thousands of trees in Boston and Brookline for Asian longhorned beetles.

How did it get here?

It is believed that Asian Longhorned beetles were transported to the United States from China via wood packing material. Asian longhorned beetle larvae kill hardwood trees by boring through a tree’s transport tissue which in turn, disrupts the flow of water and nutrients essential for the tree’s health.

What’s Next?

New York's Central Park was threatened by Asian Longhorned Beetle, and USDA's efforts have slowed the spread. Boston's urban landscape is now threatened by ALB.

Experts claim that Massachusetts has the most infested trees in the country and has more than $54 million appropriated in emergency funds in the event an outbreak reoccurs.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, Wendy Fox did not have a comment on what measures might be taken to combat the beetle in Boston.

What is at risk?

Faulkner Hospital is adjacent to the 265-acre Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University which was established in 1872.  Arnold Arboretum is the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world’s leading centers for the study of plants.

What can be done?

Arborjet manufactures tree injection equipment which the USDA provides for tree protection.  Tree injection applies chemicals directly to trees to protect them from Asian Longhorned Beetle.  After the USDA removed trees in Worcester they have begun using Arborjet equipment to protect trees.  Tree injections reduce the risks associated with soil drenching pesticides around trees.

Read the Full Story by Carolyn Johnson

There are 937 million ash trees in Minnesota

Members of the Minnesota DNR are trying to find a way to delay the spread of the emerald ash borer insect.

The invasive species, which was discovered in Minnesota last summer, lays eggs on the bark of ash trees, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The larvae burrow beneath the bark and eat the living insides of the tree, cutting off the channels within the tree that act as veins, carrying water and nutrients to the limbs of the tree. The tree will begin to starve to death within two or three years.

The emerald ash borer has been discovered in at least five neighborhoods in St. Paul, Minneapolis and Falcon Heights and could affect the 937 million ash trees in Minnesota. It is believed that the insect was inadvertently brought to the U.S. from Asia in the 1990s. The emerald ash borer was first seen in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002.

How Arborjet can help

Arborjet is the leader in Emerald Ash Borer control using scientifically proven, fast acting, and long lasting products that are injected directly into the vascualar system of the tree.  Arborjet tree injection reduces the risk of environmental exposure to pesticides by sealing products inside the tree.

Find Arborjet Service Providers
Find Arborjet Distributors

For more info visit Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Emerald Ash Borer is creeping into our ash trees undetected, destroying them from the inside, and threatens to devastate our urban forests, leaving many neighborhoods without trees. The financial impact to cities will be enormous if these trees come down. This pest, a hitchhiker on packing materials originating in Asia, was discovered in the United States in 2002 and has spread to 13 Midwestern states and Canada. Left untreated, Emerald Ash Borer, or simply EAB, is expected to kill every unprotected Ash tree in the country. Considering that Ash trees make up from 20-30 percent of the canopy of our boulevards, with residential ash trees accounting for 4-5 times a city’s tree population, this is an environmental and economic crisis that bears immediate attention.

Trees are generally considered indestructible, so damage from EAB is often severe by the time physical signs are apparent, and hope for saving the tree has diminished. In the space of 2 – 3 years, a tree’s defenses become overwhelmed by the sheer number of these pests which destroy the tree’s vascular system, making it unable to transport food or water. When a tree dies, and the borer’s source of food is gone, they move to the next tree, and the cycle of destruction begins again.

The impact of tree loss to a community is well documented, as countless cities removed trees in the early days of EAB. Tree loss means warmer homes in the summer, and less protection against winter winds, costing you more to heat and cool. Outdoor watering use increases, as have water use rates. Loss of these trees will increase storm water runoff, affect drinking water, increase local street flooding, reduce stream clarity, and hasten habitat decline. Property values are inextricably linked to lush landscaping, and many neighborhoods now lament the removal of their stately trees, replaced by 1-2” saplings.

The good news is that researchers have worked aggressively to find practical solutions to save our trees. Some treatments can be purchased directly by homeowners, but those proven most effective are only available through trained and licensed tree care professionals. Emerald Ash Borer kills every unprotected tree it attacks, so ignoring the pest is not an option. After evaluating your trees, and determining which are ash trees, there are several options including, removal and replacement, or treatments which include; soil drenching, bark spraying and trunk injection.

Removal and replacement. Deciding to remove your ash tree is complicated by many factors, not the least of which is cost. Cities have estimated that to remove, stump grind and replace a street tree averages $750- $1000 when performed by city personnel. Having a commercial tree service remove your tree could be considerably more, especially if the tree is situated in your backyard.

Consider removing those with physical damage, or in decline from other pests, or environmental conditions. Small trees, up to 4 inches diameter, can be removed at a lower cost and may not warrant the attention you will employ to save them. Some trees have sentimental value and only you can assess their true value.

Soil Drenching – Available directly to homeowners, the pesticide is poured into the soil at the base of the tree. This method requires two treatments per year to prevent trees from declining, however, homeowners may legally make only one treatment per year with soil drenches. Research has shown inconsistent results in stopping EAB damage with this treatment. Additionally, these chemicals can bind to the mulch around the tree, further reducing efficacy. Soil Injection, used by contractors, is similar to soil drenching, except a tool is used to inject the chemical below the soil surface allowing legal treatment to be performed twice per year. For cities, and residents, there are legal limits to the number of trees which can be treated per acre. Inconsistent performance and bi-annual treatments make this a less appealing solution.

Other Methods -– Many other methods have been proposed, but few have provided consistent, affordable, and environmentally sound alternatives.

Trunk Injection – is widely considered to be the most effective and consistent method available for preventing EAB from attacking a tree, or killing EAB in an infested tree. It can stop damage even if the tree is already under attack without harming the surrounding environment. A special injection tool places and seals the insect control directly into the trunk where it is immediately taken up by the vascular system and distributed throughout the tree. Research has proven that this method effectively protects trees for two years following a single injection.

The largest Midwestern cities, including Chicago and Milwaukee, chose and are currently using trunk injection with its two years of protection, for over 115,000 boulevard trees, following careful evaluation of the alternatives.

The bottom line: treatment is always less costly than removal and replacement, cities can treat for 40+ years before treatment cost equals the cost of removal. If EAB has been confirmed within 15 miles of your community, don’t wait to treat your trees. Call your local tree care professional and discuss which treatment options they offer, before the damage is irreversible.

Original Article