It was bound to happen eventually: the Emerald Ash Borer infestation in Toronto has now spread to Pickering.
According to the Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed the infestation in December - the first infestation in Durham Region. The affected area is near Finch and Liverpool Road "on a residential street".
Here's what you need to know to help prevent its spread to other trees, and what you should do if you find one.
Why Is It Important to Prevent the Spread of the Emerald Ash Beetle?
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) the Emerald Ash Beetle has killed over 20 million trees so far in the US and Canada. Since it was only discovered here in 2002, that's about 4.5 million trees a year on average so far.
The Ash trees that the beetle prefers are very common in southern Canada, and can be found in the city since they are suited for planting on city streets.
How To Identify an Emerald Ash Borer Infestation
The Emerald Ash Borer is a little green beetle with a long body and big black eyes. The image at the top of this page is an Emerald Ash Borer. There's also a gallery of photos you can see on the CFIA website.
A group of US government departments have put together an EAB website where you can learn more about the beetle. There is also this helpful document (PDF) on how to identify the beetle, what it looks like, and what signs to look for.
The beetle generally leaves behind distinctive winding paths in the Ash wood. This image shows wood from a Michigan ash tree that was infested with the beetle (click on the image for a larger view).
What to Do to Prevent the Spread of the Emerald Ash Beetle
There are a few things you can do to help prevent the spread of the beetle. The current Ministerial Order for the City of Toronto outlines the most important things you can do to prevent the spread. Here is a brief outline (full text here):
- If you see the beetle, don't carry it to a different place
- Don't move the following Ash-tree products: trees, nursery stock, logs, lumber, wood packaging or dunnage, wood or bark, wood chips or bark chips
- Never transport firewood of any type: Always burn firewood where you found/grew/bought it
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has also launched a "Don't Move Firewood" campaign - you can see or print the poster online (PDF).
It should be noted that there can be penalties of up to $50,000 and/or prosecution for moving firewood out of a regulated area (such as the City of Toronto).
What to Do if You Suspect an Infestation
You can call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at 1-866-463-6017 from Monday - Friday, 8am to 4pm.
Where to Get More Information
The CFIA has a lot of information on the Emerald Ash Borer on their website.
Or try this website dedicated to EAB information in the Great Lakes region: emeraldashborer.info
Emeral Ash Borer Photo at Top by Benimoto
Fire wood Photo by RoguePoet
