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Mancana ash with canker. |
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Mancana
ash with early frost disease canker. |
Emerald Ash Borer
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Ash tree infested with the emerald ash borer. |
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An
emerald ash borer. |
In
the last few years, the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)
has become widely known as the number one killer of native
eastern ash trees, especially the white ash (F. americana),
the green ash (F. pennsylvanica var. subintegerrima),
the black ash (F. nigra) and the red ash (F. pennsylvanica).
Current statistics from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) indicate that over 20 million trees have been destroyed
in Canada and the United States over the last six or more
years. In Canada, commonly planted Manchurian ashes (F.
mandshurica) are not as vulnerable to the beetles as are
the native species. The Emerald ash borer is closely related
to two other Canadian pests: the bronze birch borer, which
destroys birches, and the two-lined chestnut borer, which
kills stressed oak trees.
Emerald ash borers have the ability to fly many kilometres,
so they can spread their populations readily. The pests' larvae
(the grub stage) can easily move from one place to another
through infested wood products such as lumber, firewood, wood
chips and ash tree nursery stock.
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