Originally from Asia, the Emerald Ash Borer beetle has made its way to Canada and is spread by transporting Ash wood. Once the beetle is found in a community, the expected loss of Ash trees is 100 per cent over ten years.
The EAB has been found in Quebec, Ontario and most recently in Winnipeg. The Government of Saskatchewan has issued a Ministerial Order that restricts the transportation of Ash materials originating from the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and the United States.
Ash trees are a valuable part of our urban forest. The City of Regina has 62,000 Ash trees, which make up 35 per cent of our total tree inventory. We are taking proactive measures by not planting any more Ash trees in the city so that our urban forest is less dependent on them in the future. Our Parks Department has traps set up around the city to help with early detection - the sooner we can detect the beetle, the better to help slow the spread.
What can residents do?
Do not transport firewood. Buy it and burn it locally.
Never purchase Ash wood or plant Ash trees supplied by nurseries from provinces east of Saskatchewan or from the U.S. It is illegal to transport Ash materials from Manitoba into Saskatchewan.
Watch for the bug. Characteristics include:
- Shiny jewel-like green colour
- Slightly longer than one centimeter
- Larvae appear to be bell-shaped and can be 26-32 millimeters long
Look for signs of infestation. Symptoms can include:
- Ash tree branches appear to be dying or thinning out in the upper part of the tree
- Green shoots grow from the trunk if the upper branches are thinning
- 'D' shaped exit holes may be visible
- Bark on the tree trunk may be vertically splitting away from the wood
- 'S' shaped galleries appear between the bark and the wood
If you think something is wrong with your Ash tree, call Service Regina at 306-777-7000 for a tree inspector to come out and take a look.
For more information on this invasive species beetle, review our Emerald Ash Borer Brochure and visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
