The emerald ash borer is a devastating parasitic insect that selectively attacks ash trees — one of the more popular landscape trees for its fall colors. Introduced originally into the Midwest from Asia, the insect has now spread into West Windsor.
The adult females lay their eggs under the tree’s bark where their larvae consume the tree’s conductive tissues, effectively “strangling” it. The tree will die within a few years if not treated. Proven timely treatments include systemic insecticides which are most effectively applied by a certified arborist and repeated annually or biannually for several years.
Eradication of emerald ash borers is not a practical option. Yet doing nothing to save a threatened tree is costly since, when the tree eventually dies, it will have to be salvaged and its stump ground or removed.
Symptoms of attack by emerald ash borers include canopy die-back, emergence of lateral “sucker” branches from the lower tree trunk, woodpeckers seeking larvae and bark shedding to reveal “galleried” channels left by larvae.
The Township’s Shade Tree Commission developed an EAB management plan and has implemented cost-effective measures to address damage to ash trees on public lands, including treatment of selected healthy mature ash trees. There are almost 1,800 ash trees on 88 West Windsor streets and more in parks and on private property. Already 17 street trees have succumbed and been removed. Some 25 additional infested ash trees have been identified and will eventually be replaced with non-susceptible species. Walking surveys to detect new evidence of EAB on the township’s street trees have been initiated.
Active in this endeavor, led by township landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky, are members of the Shade Tree Commission Susan Holscher-Calingo and Katie Girandola. These detection efforts are being supplemented by several homeowner associations as well as by the Girl Scout’s Save-An-Ash-Tree campaign. The West Windsor public is encouraged to participate in this effort and to become well informed on the nature of the EAB challenge by visiting westwindsornj.org.
Ron Slinn, Chair
Shade Tree Commission
