🚨 ARTHROPOD OF THE DAY 🚨

The emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia, is responsible for the death and decline of tens of millions of ash trees in North America. EAB lays its eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow into the tree where they feed. This feeding is what damages the trees.

EAB adults are metallic green with a coppery-red abdomen and about one-half inch long. These beetles live for about three weeks. They are most active during the day, particularly when the weather is warm and sunny.

Up to 99% of ash trees are killed by EAB within 8-10 years of its establishment. EAB has greatly reduced the number of black ash trees in particular, and could spread throughout most of the tree’s range within the next two generations. Based on the threat from EAB, black ash was declared endangered and added to the Species at Risk in Ontario List in 2022. There are ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of EAB and protect existing populations of ash.