Emerald Ash Borer Identification
Tagged as: Emerald Ash Borer, beetles, EAB, larvae
Adults are bright metallic green beetles that are approximately 1/3 inch long and 1/16 inch wide. They have flat backs and rounded abdomens. They are present from mid-May through late July. Larvae reach a length of approximately 1 inch and are creamy white, flattened, and segmented.
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Emerald ash borer adult |
Emerald ash borer larval stages emeraldashborerinfo.org |
EAB adult beetles emerge from infested trees beginning in mid-May, peaking in late June, and continue emerging until late July. Beetles feed on ash foliage causing irregularly shaped patches along leaf margins and minor feeding damage. Females lay approximately 75 eggs on the bark of branches and trunks from late-May through July with hatch occurring in about one week. Larvae tunnel into the cambium area between the inner bark and outer ring of wood, feed on phloem and outer sapwood, and produce galleries (tunnels) that disrupt the flow of water and nutrients within the tree. Feeding is completed in autumn and larvae overwinter in shallow chambers excavated in outer sapwood or bark of thick-barked trees. Pupation begins in late April.
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