Hamilton forced to remove trees due to bug infestation
- Robert
- 04 Jul 2018
Another crop of Hamilton ash trees must be removed due to the continuing Emerald Ash Borer infestation.
Emerald Ash Borers were first discovered in North America in 2002. It’s thought that these pesky insects, native to Asia, made their way to Canada through untreated wooden material.
For over eight years, Emerald Ash Borers have been wreaking havoc on Hamilton’s ash trees. The insects burrow inside each tree’s vascular system to lay their larvae. The larvae, in turn, receive all of the water, nutrients and sugar that would’ve been processed throughout the tree. Once an ash tree is infested, its mortality is nearly 100%.
Over the next few weeks, the city will remove over 50 dead and dying ash trees from Confederation Beach Park. The first phase of removal will begin next week along the Hamilton Waterfront Trail.
For every ash tree removed, the city will replace it with a tree of a different species.
There are currently no known natural enemies of the Emerald Ash Borer to control its growing population. The best way to help stop the spread of the insects is to learn how to identify Emerald Ash Borers and what infested ash trees look like.
Adult Emerald Ash Borers are metallic blue-green in colour. They have narrow bodies and range from 8.5 to 14 mm in length. Their larvae are creamy white with a light brown head.
An infested ash tree will be thinning out, along with having dead branches and yellowing leaves.
If you see an Emerald Ash Borer or signs of an infestation, it is important to contact the right people. Please call the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. You can also visit EDDMapS Ontario to report a sighting online.
Have you come in contact with any Emerald Ash Borers in Hamilton? Let us know in the comments.
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