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January 28, 2026 - The Emerald Invader

Preventing the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer into Alberta.

An emerald wave of destructive beetles is slowly making its way across Canada, decimating ash trees in its wake. The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), named for its distinct jewel-toned green body and wood-boring nature, is an invasive beetle that poses a significant threat to ash trees in North America. 

Emerald ash borer (EAB) adults are approximately 8.5-14 mm long and 3-3.5 mm wide – often described as being twice the size of a grain of rice. While the adult beetles cause minimal damage feeding on foliage, it is the creamy white larvae that are the real problem.

Larvae burrow beneath the bark of the ash tree, preventing the flow of water and nutrients. This “girdles” the tree and eventually leads to tree death.

According to the Invasive Species Centre, tree mortality rates of up to 95-99 per cent have been reported within 8-10 years of EAB establishment – a looming statistic that is echoed through several studies. 

The EAB is an Asian species native to China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Mongolia, and Eastern Russia. Natural Resources Canada reports the beetle was first detected in the Detroit, Michigan area in 2002, but has likely been in North America since the 1990’s. They are believed to have accidentally been imported via wooden packaging materials.

Although the EAB has not yet reached Alberta, it has been detected in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and in over 30 American states.

In an online seminar, the Oregon Department of Forestry reported that the EAB has killed over 100 million trees since its arrival and is the highest costing forest pest in U.S. history. 

Natural Resources Canada states that “the distribution of emerald ash borer in Canada will continue to increase from the natural spread of the insect through flight and by the human-assisted movement of infested ash commodities (firewood, nursery stock and wood products).”

Several of Alberta’s cities with high ash tree populations have identified the EAB as a significant threat to their urban canopies. The City of Calgary, with an estimated 250,000 ash trees on public and private land, has been setting up traps and conducting continuous monitoring for early detection of this destructive pest.

Signs of an infestation may include D-shaped exit holes, serpentine or “s” shaped larval feeding galleries under bark, and insect presence; the Alberta Invasive Species Council also notes gradual canopy thinning from top-down, branch dieback, and yellowing of leaves are a few other symptoms that may result from tree girdling.

Due to its small size making early detection challenging and limited effective natural predators, monitoring and preventative measures in Alberta are essential to help slow the spread of the EAB. 

With a flight range of only 10-15 km for adults, the spread of EAB through wood products will be the most likely vehicle of infestation. Avoiding transporting firewood between provinces and adopting the “burn it where you buy it” slogan is extremely important. 

This beetle may be visually striking, but it has the potential to cause significant economic and ecological damage should it reach Alberta’s ash tree population. 

Let’s help prevent the spread of this pest into Alberta. Don’t Move Firewood and report any suspected sightings outside of regulated areas.

For more information about the emerald ash borer, visit reputable government resources.