 One of the signs sited to indicate a potential emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation is a high level of woodpecker activity flaking the bark off of infested ash trees. Trees attacked by the woodpeckers stand out because the woodpecker exposes light colored bark under the grayish-black bark of the surface of the tree. Trees affected so by woodpeckers can be spotted from yards away. Ash trees infested by EAB are not the only trees that might draw someone's attention with high levels of woodpecker activity. Curtis Young reported spotting several trees that appeared ghostly white from a distance. Fearing new EAB infestations in areas not known to be infested by EAB, Curtis stopped to investigate the trees. What was found were dead elm trees infested by huge populations of bark beetles that drew the attentions of the woodpeckers. Most of the limbs, branches and the main trunks of the trees had the surface bark stripped off to get to the insects hidden below. Thus, the take home message is that woodpecker activity is not an absolute identifier of EAB infestations.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 May 2008 18:08 )
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BYGL 
