Health & Fitness
Asian Beetle Larva Causes Quarantine in Manassas Park, Other Cities
Since 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees in the United States and Canada. They were first discovered in Northern Virginia in 2003.
In the last couple years, I have noticed more and more of the trees in my neighborhood losing bark and branches and essentially dying. At first I thought that this was just nature doing its job and getting rid of the old trees. Upon closer inspection, it became apparent that a tiny culprit could be responsible for the destruction.
The likely suspect was a tree borer. In 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer was discovered in southeastern Michigan near Detroit. This invasive species of beetle, native to East Asia, has since spread throughout the country and killed tens of millions of ash trees. The adult beetle does little damage to trees. However, the larvae they deposit burrow into the trees and essentially feed on the inner bark, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Eventually, the tree dies.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, there is little you can do once a tree has been infested. Previous attempts to eliminate the beetle have failed. Federal and State governments have imposed a quarantine on the transportation of ash wood outside of the area. The following counties and cities are covered by the quarantine: Fairfax, Arlington, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Clark, and Frederick counties and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester.
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Evidence of borer activity is abundent. The newly-opened Manassas Park Dog Park contains six large trees that provide much needed shade for dogs and park goers during the hot summer months. A close inspection shows that several of these trees evidence of the beetle and much of the bark is falling off. Is the ash borer to blame? Will these trees still be here next summer to provide shade?
If other residents have noticed evidence of tree damage due to the borers, please share your experience. Signs of borer activity include bark splitting, canopy dieback, larval galleries, and "D" shaped exit holes in the bark. Additional information on the Emerald Ash Borer can be found in the links below.