City workers keep eyes peeled for emerald ash borer

After devouring its way across Canada over the last 16 years, the emerald ash borer is now a concern in Regina.

This iridescent green, invasive pest species was spotted in Winnipeg at the end of last year and has the City of Regina on alert, although the beetle has yet to make an appearance in the city.

Russell Eirich, manager of forestry, pest control and horticulture for the City of Regina, said the pests often hitch a ride with campers or trucks transporting materials.

“Regina is the next natural stop for truckers and for campers when they leave the province there,” he said.

The emerald ash borer only targets ash trees, but one third of Regina’s trees — 62,000 of them — are ash.

LARVAE UNDER THE BARK

Eirich said the larvae develop under the bark and kill the tree by chewing through the tubes that carry sugars up and down to every part of the tree.

It is difficult to protect ash trees once the pest has become established in a community.

“Once emerald ash borer is confirmed in a community, you would expect to see all of the ash trees die within about a 10-year period,” said Eirich.

“This is something that we don’t want to find, but we want to be very very vigilant.”

Because of this, the City of Regina is working hard at prevention and early detection.

The provincial government has issued a ministerial order saying the transport of ash firewood or material from Manitoba or the United States is illegal. Residents are encouraged to buy and burn local firewood instead.

The City of Regina has stopped planting or relocating any ash trees, and this emerald ash borer concern is why Wascana Centre has decided not to relocate the 54 ash trees being removed as part of the Conexus Credit Union construction.

“When you know something’s coming, why assume more risk?” said Eirich.

The city is also in the process of setting up 25 monitoring traps so it can be alerted as soon as possible if the pest does appear. Eirich noted the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Wascana Centre are also setting up traps of their own, so there is a “co-ordinated approach between federal, City of Regina and Wascana Centre.”

These traps look like bright green triangular prisms and will be hung in trees around the city.

Eirich encouraged residents to keep an eye on their own ash trees.

Residents can call Service Regina (306-777-7000) if they have any concerns about their ash trees.

This piece of wood is infected by the emerald ash borer, which only targets ash trees. One-third of Regina’s trees — 62,000 of them — are ash.