The emerald ash borer has been progressing through Maine for multiple years, destroying ash trees along its route, and this non-native pest appears unlikely to cease.
The beetle attacks ash trees from the inside out, burrowing into the inner bark and disrupting the flow of nutrients and water. Once infested, a tree cannot be saved.
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Currently, there is no way to stop the spread of the emerald ash borer in the United States, according to research officials. However, experts urge homeowners with ash trees to take preventive measures before it’s too late.
“There’s really only one option, it’s a systemic injection that’s injected into the tree,” said Chris Plante, an arborist with Davey Tree. “It’s usually done in June, when they leaf out around that time of year, to pull up into the vascular system of the tree. So, if the insect is present, it kills the insect.”
The Maine Forest Service provides an emerald ash borer surveillance program.
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, as well as additional details on recognizing and reporting observations of the invasive species.
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The emerald ash borer remains destructive to Maine’s ash trees.
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