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Destructive tree pest may be on its wayNebraska Emerald ash borer is a non-native pest that first appeared in the Detroit area about six years ago, said Laurie Stepanek Nebraska Forest Service health assistant. Forest Service personnel have not yet seen it in Nebraska. "It has wiped out 25 million ash trees in the United States," Stepanek said. "We have extensive ash resources in Nebraska. If we fail to control this pest when it gets here, we're going to lose a lot of trees," Stepanek said. The most distinctive symptom of ash borer is its D-shaped exit hole, like a capital D. "If you see a tree with this kind of holes, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture, your local county agent, or the Nebraska Forest Service. Let someone know immediately so we can plan to manage this pest," Stepanek urged. The best protection against tree disease and insect pests is to provide for overall tree health, she said. Environmental conditions such as drought, ice, wind and storms can damage trees, Stepanek said. Those conditions can also include things humans do to trees, like mower damage. Sometimes when they mow around trees, people bump the tree trunk with the mower or the weed eater. "Right underneath the bark is delicate, important tissues to the tree," Stepanek said. "The best way to prevent what we call 'mower blight' is to have a nice mulch ring around the tree." A lot of people like to use automatic sprinklers a few minutes every day and then go off, Stepanek said. It's better for the tree, though, to water slowly with a hose for an hour or more, then to allow the water to drain away for about a week before watering again. Stepanek listed lilac borer as a major insect pest in western Nebraska. It attacks ash, lilac and privet. It tunnels into the trunk and branches of trees and shrubs and can weaken their basic structure. If a tree or shrub sustains this damage year after year, it may die. Lilac borer can be controlled by applying pesticide to the trees and shrubs, Stepanek said. Treatment won't kill the insects already inside the tree, but it will prevent more insects from moving in. Again, keeping trees generally healthy will go a long way toward making them less vulnerable to pests and disease. The Nebraska Forest Service is an affiliate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 5/26/08 Date: 6/5/08 Advertisement
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