Woodpeckers Can Point to Emerald Ash Borer in Winter

Light flecking on the top of an ash tree can be a sign of EAB infections. Photo by Bill McNee.

Winter is an ideal time to look for signs of emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation because woodpeckers will do much of the hunting for those signs, according to state forest health specialists.

Emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that kills all species of ash trees in Wisconsin. The larval, or worm-like, stage of the insect spends the winter months beneath the bark of infested ash trees. Woodpeckers pick away at the outer bark of infested trees in search of the nutritious larvae. This “flecking” of the bark is easily seen in winter, even from a distance, when trees are bare of leaves, according to Andrea Diss-Torrance, invasive forest insects program coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Flecking typically begins in the upper canopy and can be an early indicator of EAB activity before other signs are visible. Once a tree becomes heavily infested, flecking may be seen all the way down its trunk and branches. Diss-Torrance says by identifying early signs of EAB infestation, people can address the problem before their trees become dangerous or too heavily infested for insecticide treatments to be successful.

Most hardwood trees can safely stand for several years after they die, but EAB-infested ash trees can become hazardous even while they are still alive. In areas where the emerald ash borer is common, there have been numerous reports of property damage and injury to people caused by falling ash trees and branches. Removing an infested tree before it becomes a hazard is typically safer and less costly for a property owner.

More information about the emerald ash borer, including other signs of infestation and a map of communities known to be infested, is available online at emeraldashborer.wi.gov. To discuss management options for infested yard trees, contact a certified arborist through the Wisconsin Arborist Association at waa-isa.org.