Trees coming down due to emerald ash borer

Trees on First Avenue and Harbourview Crescent in Wellington are being taken down March 13 – 17. There will be rolling lane blockages on First Avenue and Harbourview Crescent between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The street will still be accessible.

Contractor Parkside Landscaping will be removing the ash trees in the neighbourhood that are infected with emerald ash borer.

Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness program states the Emerald Ash Borer attacks both healthy and stressed Ash trees when its larvae tunnel through the tree’s vascular system which delivers water, nutrients and sugars throughout the tree. There is no known natural enemy to control the population, or spread. Once infested, mortality of Ash trees is nearly 100 per cent.

Emerald Ash Borer will only travel a few kilometers per year on its own; however it can be easily dispersed long distances by people moving infested materials, such as firewood, logs, lumber, and woodchips.

Metallic blue-green adult emerald ash borer emerge from a D-shaped exit hole between mid May and late June. Their bodies are narrow and 8.5 to 14 mm long. Larvae are a creamy white colour with a light brown head.

The County notes replacement planting will occur over time with preference to properties participating in the Adopt a Tree program.

Learn more at https://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/meet-the-species/invasive-insects/emerald-ash-borer/