The Emerald Ash Borer continues to be a serious threat to ash trees in Iowa and other Midwestern states. First detected in Iowa in 2010, the invasive beetle has since spread to 39 counties and killed millions of ash trees at an estimated cost of over $2.5 billion. While some ash trees have been treated and removed, the beetle may also be able to infest other tree species like white fringetree. However, cities like Ames have developed plans to diversify their tree populations and reduce dependence on ash trees through treatment and reforestation efforts. Continued management is needed to address the ongoing impacts of Emerald Ash Borer.

1. Emerald Ash
Borer – Is It Still
A Threat?
Jessie Liebenguth
Horticulturist – Reiman
Gardens – Iowa State
University

2. Jessie Liebenguth
 Horticulturist, Reiman
Gardens
 ISU Horticulture Grad
 Professional interests
include roses, high
consequence pests and
pathogens, & annual
production
 All-America Selections,
American Garden Rose
Selections judge

3. Reiman Gardens
 Opened 1995
 17 acres south of
campus (1.1 miles
from Hansen Learning
Center)
 Griffith Buck rose
collection nationally
accredited through
APGA
 Focus on education,
butterflies, natural
beauty

4. 2017 Theme: WATER!

5. 2017 Theme: WATER!
 Washed Ashore – Art
to Save the Sea
 9 large sculptures
and one jelly bloom
 Late April through
October

6. EAB Crash Course
ci.bristol.ct.us Iowatreepests.com
 Pretty, green insect
with purple abdomen
 Adult stage
 ½” long, 1/8” wide
 Feed in tree tops,
hard to see

7. EAB Crash Course
Iowatreepests.com
 Larva is the bad
hombre
 Bell-shaped
segments
 1.25” before
pupation
 Feeds on tree’s
transportation
systems

8. EAB Crash Course
iowatreepests.com labs.russell.wisc.edu
 Look for D-shaped
exit holes
 Look for S galleries
under the bark

9. EAB Crash Course
Branches Tree Experts
 Attack ash trees(*)
 Look for poor vigor,
branch flagging,
epicormic sprouting

10. EAB Crash Course

11. Is Emerald Ash Borer Still a Threat?
emeraldashborer.info

12. NOPE! Go home and enjoy!
Clipartkid.com

13. Giphy.com

14. 2002…
emeraldashborer.info

15. Tree Mortality
Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements

16. Tree Mortality
Wachtel Tree Science

17. 2002…
emeraldashborer.info

18. 2007…
emeraldashborer.info

19. 2010… (confirmed in Iowa)
emeraldashborer.info

20. 2015…
emeraldashborer.info

21. 2017…

22. Iowa Counties (39 total)
Iowatreepests.com

23. Why does EAB matter?
Emeraldashborer.wi.gov
 Feed under the bark
of ash trees, so
difficult to see
 Can kill a tree in two
to four years

24. No seriously, why does that matter?
Reference.com
 Estimated 8 BILLION
ash trees in the U.S.
 3 MILLION in Iowa
cities
 52 MILLION in rural
woodlands

25. Blah, blah, blah, I don’t care about trees…
City of Lenexa
 Loss of millions of
ash trees will cost
Iowa over $2.5
BILLION from lost
shade, rising
stormwater retention
costs, and reduced
property values!

26. WAIT… MONEY?!?!
Nrs.fs.fed.us
 USDA Forest Service
predicts treatment,
removal, and
replacement will cost
$10.7 BILLION
 And that’s just for a
25 state area,
centered around
Detroit…

27. How many more facts do you have?
www.csmonitor.com
 Property values can be 7-
25% higher for homes
surrounded by trees
 Consumers spend up to
13% more at shops near
green landscapes
 Patients who can see
trees from their windows
are hospitalized, on
average, 8% fewer days!

28. Want to be even more upset?
Statebystategardening.com

29. White Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus)
Wright.edu
 In October 2015, EAB
was confirmed in white
fringetree
 A visit to Morton
Arboretum found
nearly half their
collection was infested
 Found in both
ornamental collections
and wild populations

30. EAB & WFT
Nhgardensolutions.wordpress.com
 Found in smaller
diameter limbs than
ash
 Does not start on
stressed populations
 Control *might* be
“easier”

31. Alright, what else?!?!
Wikipedia.org
 Preliminary lab testing
has reared viable larva
in several other
Oleacea members
 Osmanthus
americanus
(devilwood) (tiny)
 Olea europaea
(OLIVE!!) (doesn’t feed
on foliage)

32. IS THERE NO HOPE?!??!?!
 Co-evolution?
 Chinese fringetree (C.
retusus)
 Non-preferential
feeding?
 Blue ash (F.
quadrangulata)
 Both?
 Manchurian ash (F.
mandshurica)

33. There is hope!
www.iowadnr.gov
 Municipalities
participating in tree
surveys
 As of 2016, 331
community urban
forest inventories
and management
plants have been
completed through
the IDNR

34. Ames has a plan!
Cityofames.org
 20 year plan,
FY2015 was year
one
 Includes treatment
and removals
 Diversification and
reforestation!!!

35. New chances!
Cityofames.org

36. ISU Extension and Outreach
Store.extension.iastate.edu

37. Thank you!
 jlieb@iastate.edu
 294-7610
emeraldashborer.info