Locals on the lookout for the emerald ash borer
Since 2002, the emerald ash borer, native to Asia, has been in North America and has killed millions of ash trees since its arrival.
While it has yet to be spotted in Sherbrooke, the metallic green tree-killing machine has infected trees in Granby, and has recently been detected in Quebec City as well.
It is likely just a matter of time before Sherbrooke residents will have to take on the emerald ash borer to try and save their trees.
The city of Sherbrooke has a plan of action on its website explaining that if found on an ash tree in the area, any other ash trees within a 100 metre radius will be cut down as a preventative measure, and others within 300 metres will be closely monitored.
Roughly 8.9 per cent of the trees on municipal property are ash trees. It is estimated that there are at least 1,600 ash trees on private properties in the area to consider.
Since 2012, Sherbrooke has had traps out on select sentinel trees across the
city keeping an eye out for the borer. Since 2015, the city has also been testing certain trees to make sure all bases are covered.
To further reduce the impact of the destructive bug inevitably bound for the area, Sherbrooke stopped including ash trees in urban landscaping plans and new developments in the area.
Lennoxville resident and St. Francis Valley Naturalists’ Club member Brian Talbot has a mature ash tree on his property and is hoping for the best.
He has been posting on the club’s facebook page to keep locals informed about the situation, and also contacted the city to find out if any steps should be taken to protect local ash trees.
“My question was about the treatment,” Talbot said.
He received a letter in his mailbox from a company offering a treatment to protect his ash tree from an emerald ash borer infestation.
He was given a quote (so much per centimetres diameter of the tree) for the treatment, but later found out that the substance the company would use was a neonic insecticide, which is not permitted in Sherbrooke.
A different treatment, known as Treeazin, is permitted, but Talbot is hesitant to use it as a method of prevention.
“The treatment is good for two years,” he said, but pointed out it required that holes be drilled in the tree to administer the chemical. He added that if the emerald ash borer doesn’t make an appearance within two years he may need to drill additional holes for another treatment at an additional expense.
Talbot also didn’t get a guarantee that his tree would be safe even if he opted to treat it.
“If I get my tree treated and they find ash borer within 100 metres, will I still have to cut it down?” he wondered, also curious about who should pay to take down an infected tree on private property.
In the meantime, the city told Talbot that his tree will become a sentinel, so he will be the first to know if there is a risk of infestation in the area. The Treeazin treatment is supposed to be very effective if caught early, Talbot said.
While researching the problem, Talbot said he came across some new bio treatments using wasps and mushroom spoors, hoping they will become available before the borer battle begins so he can keep his ash tree.
Louis Gosselin, in charge of media relations for Sherbrooke, said the city is monitoring the situation and will take the necessary steps if/when the emerald ash borer comes to town.
Symptoms of an emerald ash borer infestation include loss of leaves at the top of the tree, dead branches, cracks in the bark and exit holes. An increased presence of wood peckers on the tree is also a sign, indicating they are on the hunt for emerald ash borer larvae.