The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle from Asia, has decimated ash tree populations across New York. Adult beetles lay eggs on the bark, and the larvae burrow beneath the bark, feeding on the tree’s vascular tissue. This disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, effectively girdling the tree. The feeding damage creates distinctive S-shaped galleries under the bark, often accompanied by D-shaped exit holes where the adults emerge. While woodpeckers feed on the larvae, their efforts are not enough to control the rapidly spreading infestation.
