Winnipeg, MB – Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found in Winnipeg. Introduced into North America from China, EAB is an invasive, wood-boring beetle that attacks and kills all species of ash trees.
“While emerald ash borer will have a significant impact on our urban tree canopy, the City has been preparing for its arrival for over a decade,” said city forester Martha Barwinsky. “We are ready to respond.”
In the new year, a report outlining a recommended EAB management approach and associated costs will be coming forward for City Council’s consideration. One option that will be considered is injecting a percentage of eligible ash trees on public properties with a botanical pesticide to preserve them as long as possible. The remaining trees on public properties would be removed as they die and possibly replaced over time.
“We are working closely with our partners and will be finalizing our EAB management plans soon,” said Barwinsky. “The goal is to spread out the mortality of ash trees to allow more proactive management of tree removals and replacements, and to preserve our healthy ash trees for as long as possible.”
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates EAB in Canada. The City is partnering with the CFIA and the Province of Manitoba on next steps. CFIA notified the City of Winnipeg of a confirmed find of an emerald ash borer larvae on November 30. The City has been working with CFIA and the province to develop appropriate survey and surveillance measures which will help determine when the pest may have arrived in Winnipeg and the extent of the spread of EAB within the city. Surveillance work will begin within the next month in the St. Boniface area where the infected tree was discovered. Should crews need to enter private property, homeowners will be provided with written notice. All staff will be carrying official City, provincial or federal identification cards.
“EAB beetles are generally dormant over the winter, so the next few months are the ideal time for us to conduct our surveying work and make preparations,” added Barwinsky. “We still want to remind citizens not to move firewood which is good advice no matter the time of year. Buy it locally and leave it where you bought it.”
Citizens are encouraged to help prevent the spread of EAB:
- Don’t move firewood,
- Burn firewood where you buy it,
- Plant a variety of tree species to increase diversity,
- Learn how to identify an ash tree, and
- Learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of EAB.
More information is available at winnipeg.ca/emeraldashborer.
Background
EAB is an invasive pest introduced into North America from China. It feeds on and kills ash trees whether they are healthy or stressed. It is the larval stage of the beetle that kills the tree. The larvae feed on the tissue underneath the bark. The larval feeding girdles the tree, cutting off the flow of nutrients and water causing the tree to die. Once detected, it cannot be eradicated. The metallic green beetle is currently in northwestern and southwestern Ontario, southern Quebec, and in 29 states in the United States, including Minnesota and is now in Winnipeg.
Over a 10-year period, the City is at risk of losing 30% of boulevard and park trees valued at approximately $437 million. Many ash trees on private property are also at risk of becoming infected over the next decade.
The City’s Urban Forestry Branch has been preparing for EAB for over a decade by:
- creating a public tree inventory and private ash tree inventory,
- initiating discussion within industry including working with the nursery industry to increase the diversity of nursery stock,
- educating and training staff and industry,
- monitoring for EAB in partnership with Trees Winnipeg and CFIA using green sticky prism traps,
- establishing diversity guidelines for the City’s reforestation program and new developments,
- partnering with the Province of Manitoba and CFIA to develop a Manitoba EAB Preparedness Plan, and
- removing ash species from its reforestation program.