Ash Borer Problem Continues

There are a number of commercial insecticides available that claim to kill Ash Borers. One such product is Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control, which is a "soil drench" that contains Imidacloprid, a widely used insecticide. Other options include: A chemical injection, and Ace Cap implants, which are drilled into the tree trunk. The catch to using the Bayer product, as well as some others, is that they are most effective when applied annually to uninfected ash trees. Contractors must be vigilant about protecting their clients?EUR??,,????'?????<

While the Ash Borer was first discovered near Detroit in 2002, its presence is becoming more volatile in the Great Lakes Bay Region this year.

“The damage is showing up quite severely,” said Jerry Somalski of Bay Landscaping. “The reason it’s a problem is once you realize there is a certain level of infestation, the only solution is to just clear cut trees,” said Brian Elder, chairman of the Bay County Board of Commissioners..

While horticulturists and arborists have been battling the bug for years, it’s now beginning to show up in the landscaping of local homes. Pockets of Bay County are seeing outbreaks, and the problem is spreading. Bay City is seeing the problem spread as well. Local officials recently discovered a group of infected trees in downtown Bay City. 

The ash borer larvae cause the most damage by feeding on the inner bark of ash trees, which disrupts nutrient and water flow within the tree.