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Emerald ash borer

Native to Asia, the emerald ash borer was introduced to North America in the 1990s through the importation of contaminated hardwood.

With no natural predators, it spreads rapidly, causing the death of millions of ash trees and threatening urban and woodland ecosystems. In Quebec, its presence has been confirmed in Montreal (2011), Longueuil (2012) and Brossard (2013). Ville de Brossard is combating this insect by removing infested ash trees to limit its spread. A reforestation plan has also been put in place to replace felled trees and diversify species, thus promoting local biodiversity.

Frequently asked questions

Ash trees can reach 15 to 20 meters in height. The branches are always opposite each other. Ash leaves are usually composed of 5 to 11 leaflets of similar size. Ash fruits are elongated greenish samaras in clusters, often abundant and sometimes persistent in winter. The bark of mature ash trees is fairly thick, formed of rigid ridges criss-crossed in regular diamond shapes.

The emerald ash borer is a small beetle, measuring between 8.5 and 13.5 mm long and 3 mm wide. The color is metallic blue-green with iridescent highlights. The adult insect can be seen from June to August, when it emerges and reproduces.

The emerald ash borer spreads in two ways:

  1. The first is natural and of little concern, as the agrile only moves when it lacks food. It usually makes flights averaging 10-12 meters. However, it can apparently fly for up to ten kilometers to find a food source.

  2. The second is due to human activity, notably the transport of wood products and logging residues from trees infested by the insect. This is the main reason for the EAB’s rapid spread.

  • Lightening the tree crown (figure 1)

  • Small D-shaped larval exit holes after May (figures 2 and 3)

  • Proliferation of gourmands (young shoots) on trunk or branches (figure 4)

  • Sinuous S-shaped galleries under the bark (figures 5 and 6)

  • Vertical slits on the trunk

  • Increased fruit production

  • Gnawed leaves (by adult)

Further information

Restricted area

Since May 2013, Brossard has been part of the region regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for emerald ash borer: “The CFIA establishes regulated areas to implement and enforce measures that restrict the movement of potentially infested wood products away from locations where EAB has been identified. These measures are necessary for the following reasons: to slow the spread of the insect, to preserve the health of Canada’s trees and forests, and to avoid economic losses to the nursery, lumber and tourism industries, as well as to municipalities.”

You can find the Canadian restricted areas by clicking on the following link: Canadian restricted areas.

The materials covered by the restrictions are all derived from ash, as well as raw and firewood of all species. Vehicles that have transported these materials are also targeted by these regulations.

You may be fined if you move the wood outside the regulated area. This fine could be as high as $15,000 for violations of the Plant Protection Act (PPA). These penalties apply to both individuals and companies. In the event of a repeat offence, the law provides for penalties of up to $250,000 and 2 years’ imprisonment.

Treatment

  • It’s advisable to start treating your ash tree as soon as the borer is present in your area, and before the tree shows any symptoms. Please follow these instructions:
    1. Apply to the Ville de Brossard for treatment certification. This service is free of charge.
    2. Treatment must be carried out by a certified contractor recognized by the City.
    3. Treatment must be carried out between June 15 and August 31 of the same year.
    4. Treatment should be repeated at least every two years.
    5. Only treatment using TreeAzin is authorized.
  • Ash trees with 30% or more crown dieback are not recommended for treatment. Indeed, by this stage, the insect larvae have already wreaked havoc inside the trunk, and the tree will have very little chance of survival. In these cases, felling is required.
  • We suggest you contact a specialist to evaluate your tree and determine the severity of the infestation. To do so, you can consult the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec (SIAQ) website, or refer to a forestry advisor through theAgence forestière de la Montérégie website.

Slaughter

Ash felling procedure:

  • Completing the application for a certificate of authorization – tree felling
  • Attach all required documents (e.g. photos and professional report)
  • If you live in a condo, you’ll need a signed letter from the syndicat de copropriété.
  • Send it to the Services Brossard counter:
  • In person: 2001 boul. Rome, Brossard, QC, J4W 3K5
  • By e-mail: [email protected]

Depending on the number of requests, deadlines apply to all authorization requests. Once obtained, the certificate of authorization is valid for three months from the date of issue. Replacement may be required following felling, in accordance with current regulations.

To limit the spread of the insect, it is forbidden to prune or fell any species of ash (genus Fraxinus) between March 15th and October 1st of the same year, except in the following cases:

  • Ash poses a threat to the health and safety of people and property;
  • Ash trees are a nuisance and can cause damage to public and private property;
  • Ash makes it impossible to carry out any construction, use, development or work authorized by the city.

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