Emerald ash borer's arrival in P.E.I. may only be a matter of time, says council
CBC
The emerald ash borer has destroyed tree populations across Canada, and the P.E.I. Invasive Species Council fears it's only a matter of time before the Island is next.
The council is currently inspecting traps it set around ash trees on the Island to catch the invasive species. The group hopes they come up empty, otherwise it would mark the first time the the pest has been spotted in this province.
Chase Guindon, the council's co-ordinator, said the emerald ash borers' spread could be slower here than in other provinces because the trees are more spread out — but if the beetles are found, they could still eventually wipe out nearly every ash tree on the Island.
"When it arrives and starts feeding on ash trees, it kills 99 per cent of the trees that it infects," Guindon said.
"It would be absolutely devastating to our ash tree populations on Prince Edward Island."
Guindon said early detection of the species is crucial because it will require more money and resources to contain the insects as they spread.
"I would suspect that eventually it will make its way over here," he said.
"What we're doing with the traps is trying to detect it as early as possible so we can respond, try and contain it and protect the trees that aren't infected with it."
The traps are shaped like a prism, with three sticky sides to catch the emerald ash borer. The colour is bright green, which is very appealing to the male beetles.
Clay Cutting, an invasive species technician with the council, said the traps work similarly to the sticky papers used to catch flies in your home.
And they contain a few other elements to attract the insect.
"This trap has within it some pheromones which attract the emerald ash borer, the smell of a dying plant and also the smell of a lady emerald ash borer," he said.
"This trap is designed specifically for male emerald ash borers to be attracted to it."
The traps are hung high in ash trees, where the emerald ash borer is most likely to be present.
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