Ash Borer Research Paper

An emerald ash borer, is a bug that most people don’t know about, but need to start having knowledge about. The ash trees are an important part of our environment and our economy. For the environment, the tree is helpful for protection, housing and temperature control. In our economy, we use ash trees for lumber, landscaping, and things such as baseball bats. This invasive bug was surprisingly discovered 13 years ago, and has been eating away and destroying our ash trees ever since (Emerald Ash Borer). The bug was originally from Asia and was most likely transported here due to lumber exchange (Factsheet). This insect is a bright, shiny green and less than a half inch long (FAQ). The EAB has been found in many counties in Iowa, but also in …show more content…
This less than one-inch bug has cost the government billions of dollars for destroying all 14 different ash trees (Emerald Ash Borer). The adult stage of the EBA isn’t the worriment, however the larva is. The larva of the bug buries in the bark of the trees and eats away at the phloem also known as the inner bark (Emerald Ash Borer). The phloem is similar to a human spine, it transports nutrients to support the tree as it grows (Iowa Association of Naturalists). If the larva eats away at this inner bark, the tree loses it’s strength and eventually dies. The trees can die within about five years, unless the tree were to be heavily populated with EBA, than it could die in a year or two. Travelers are unknowingly spreading the insect from state to state by simply moving firewood. There is research being conducted, but not enough is being done to understand how to stop this bug. Students and professors at Emerald Ash Borer University study all different kinds of trends of both the trees and the borer. One of the most common ways to tell if the EBA is affecting the tree is by looking at the canopy of the tree over a period of time. The students looked at the ash trees for five years and noticed a decline of leaves and branches on the tops of the trees, which led them to believe that the EBA was destroying …show more content…
This solution is also known as an insecticide, which in simpler terms is a chemical (Emamectin Benzoate). This would be injected into the base of any ash tree and is used to kill off the EBA or any other unwanted pests. Now many wonder if it will hurt the tree, and the answer is no. This chemical is not only killing the EBA, but also helping the ash trees redeem their strength (Tree-age). In studies, after using the Tree-age, the percentage of the EBA and any other pests have dramatically decreased. In research, after only a month of having injected the insecticide into the tree, it is close to 99% clearance of the EBA. This solution has been proven to eliminate massive amounts of larva and adults (Emamectin Benzoate). Although this chemical is extremely effective, there are some drawbacks. Unfortunately, this is a highly sensitive chemical and needs to be inserted into the tree properly, or the effect won’t be as successful, therefore, anytime it needs to be injected into the tree, it needs to be completed by a professional. Another downfall is that the chemical should be re-applied every two years (Tree-age). With these downfalls it may seem impossible, but the idea of this insecticide is to slow the insect from spreading. One easy solution that will slow the growth, which everyone can cooperate in is to not move firewood. After cutting an infested ash tree, the larva will still