Ash (White and Green)
Scientific Name: Fraxinus Americana and Fraxinus pennsylvanica
— pronounced FRAK-si-nus a-mer-ih-KAY-nah and pen-sil-VAN-ih-kuh
— Fraxinus, Latin for ash tree.
Olive Family (Oleaceae): contains about 700 species, including olives, forsythia, privets & jasmine.
Other Common Names:
White Ash – American Ash, Biltmore Ash
Green Ash – Red Ash, Pumpkin Ash
Both White and Green Ash are present in the Preserve.
This tree and all of the other mature ash trees in the Preserve, White and Green, are dead or dying. The cause of death is a small metallic green beetle—the Emerald Ash Borer.
— pronounced FRAK-si-nus a-mer-ih-KAY-nah and pen-sil-VAN-ih-kuh
— Fraxinus, Latin for ash tree.
Olive Family (Oleaceae): contains about 700 species, including olives, forsythia, privets & jasmine.
Other Common Names:
White Ash – American Ash, Biltmore Ash
Green Ash – Red Ash, Pumpkin Ash
Both White and Green Ash are present in the Preserve.
This tree and all of the other mature ash trees in the Preserve, White and Green, are dead or dying. The cause of death is a small metallic green beetle—the Emerald Ash Borer.
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The beetle is native to Asia and was first seen in North America in Michigan in 2002. It was first found in Rockbridge County in 2012. The adult female beetles lay their eggs on the bark of ash trees. After hatching, the larvae chew through the outer bark and feed in the phloem and the cambium layers beneath. As they feed, the larvae wind back and forth, creating serpentine galleries.
The beetle is native to Asia and was first seen in North America in Michigan in 2002. It was first found in Rockbridge County in 2012. The adult female beetles lay their eggs on the bark of ash trees. After hatching, the larvae chew through the outer bark and feed in the phloem and the cambium layers beneath. As they feed, the larvae wind back and forth, creating serpentine galleries.
Photo by David Rosher
The following spring, the adults emerge through the bark, leaving D-shaped exit holes.
Often, the first sign of Emerald Ash Borer infestation in a tree is “flecking” of the bark. The flecking is caused by woodpeckers chipping away the outer bark ridges, trying to get to the beetle larvae beneath.
The following spring, the adults emerge through the bark, leaving D-shaped exit holes.
Often, the first sign of Emerald Ash Borer infestation in a tree is “flecking” of the bark. The flecking is caused by woodpeckers chipping away the outer bark ridges, trying to get to the beetle larvae beneath.
Photo by David Rosher
Soon the tree's upper branches begin to die back. Infested Ash trees lose most of their canopy within 2 years and die within 3 to 4 years. The dead tree is rapidly invaded by wood decay fungi. The fungal feeding weakens the wood, leading to the tree breaking apart. Often, as with this tree, the break occurs several feet above the ground. Both the standing and fallen pieces provide habitat and food for many different animals and fungi.
For more information about the beetle see Emerald Ash Borer in Virginia.
So far, Ash seedlings and small saplings have escaped attack by the emerald ash borer. Live ash seedlings are abundant throughout the Preserve.
If you are interested in learning how to distinguish White Ash from Green Ash, take a look at White Ash vs Green Ash.
For more photos and ID help, see the VT Dendrology Fact Sheets: White Ash and Green Ash.
Soon the tree's upper branches begin to die back. Infested Ash trees lose most of their canopy within 2 years and die within 3 to 4 years. The dead tree is rapidly invaded by wood decay fungi. The fungal feeding weakens the wood, leading to the tree breaking apart. Often, as with this tree, the break occurs several feet above the ground. Both the standing and fallen pieces provide habitat and food for many different animals and fungi.
For more information about the beetle see Emerald Ash Borer in Virginia.
So far, Ash seedlings and small saplings have escaped attack by the emerald ash borer. Live ash seedlings are abundant throughout the Preserve.
If you are interested in learning how to distinguish White Ash from Green Ash, take a look at White Ash vs Green Ash.
For more photos and ID help, see the VT Dendrology Fact Sheets: White Ash and Green Ash.