Emerald Ash Borer: Atlanta Diagnosis & Treatment Guide

What Is the Emerald Ash Borer?

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is an invasive wood-boring beetle from Asia that has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America since its discovery in Michigan in 2002. The metallic green adult beetles are about half an inch long, but it is the cream-colored larvae feeding beneath the bark that cause the damage—they carve serpentine galleries through the cambium layer, severing the tree's nutrient and water transport network.

EAB was confirmed in Georgia in 2013 and has since spread across much of the state, including metro Atlanta. While ash trees are less common in Atlanta's residential landscapes than oaks or pines, they are present in parks, along streets, and in some neighborhoods. Every ash tree in the region is at risk—EAB has killed virtually 100 percent of untreated ash trees wherever it has become established.

How to Identify Emerald Ash Borer

• D-shaped exit holes: The distinctive calling card of EAB. Adult beetles emerge through 1/8-inch D-shaped holes in the bark. These are smaller than a pencil eraser and uniquely D-shaped (not round like other borers).
• Crown dieback: Canopy thinning begins at the top of the tree and progresses downward over two to four years. By the time one-third of the canopy is dead, the tree typically cannot be saved.
• Bark splits: Vertical bark cracks develop over larval galleries, sometimes revealing the S-shaped feeding tracks beneath.
• Epicormic sprouting: The tree produces dense clusters of shoots (suckers) from the trunk and major branches as it attempts to compensate for canopy loss.
• Increased woodpecker activity: Woodpeckers feed on EAB larvae, flaking away outer bark and leaving distinctive blonde patches. Heavy woodpecker activity on an ash tree is an early warning sign.

Which Atlanta Trees Are Affected?

EAB attacks all species of true ash (Fraxinus), including:

• White ash (F. americana)
• Green ash (F. pennsylvanica)
• Carolina ash (F. caroliniana)

Note: Mountain ash (Sorbus) is not a true ash and is not affected. The first step is confirming your tree is actually an ash species—look for opposite branching and compound leaves with 5 to 9 leaflets.

Treatment Options

• Preventive insecticide treatment: Trunk injections of emamectin benzoate (TREE-age) provide two to three years of protection per treatment and are the gold standard for EAB prevention. Soil drenches or trunk sprays of imidacloprid or dinotefuran also provide protection but may require annual application.
• Treatment timing: Begin preventive treatment before the tree shows more than 30 percent canopy loss. Once decline exceeds this threshold, the tree is unlikely to recover even with treatment.
• Removal: Dead and severely declining ash trees should be removed promptly. As wood deteriorates, dead ash trees become brittle and hazardous, with branches that can fall without warning.

Prevention Strategies

• Identify your ash trees: The first step is knowing whether you have ash trees on your property. An ISA-certified arborist can confirm species identification.
• Begin treatment proactively: Do not wait for symptoms. Once EAB is confirmed within 15 miles of your property, beginning preventive treatment is advisable for any ash trees you wish to preserve.
• Do not move firewood: EAB spreads through transportation of infested ash firewood. Buy firewood locally and burn it where you buy it.
• Plan for replacement: For ash trees in poor condition or where ongoing treatment costs are impractical, plan for removal and replanting with non-ash species to maintain your landscape's canopy.

When to Call an Arborist

If you have ash trees on your property, contact an ISA-certified arborist now—even if you have not yet observed symptoms. An arborist can confirm the species, assess the tree's condition, and recommend whether preventive treatment is cost-effective based on the tree's size, health, and landscape value. Our team stays current on EAB distribution data across metro Atlanta to provide informed treatment recommendations.

Atlanta-Specific Considerations

EAB is confirmed throughout the greater Atlanta area and continues to spread. The warm Georgia climate may accelerate the beetle's life cycle, potentially allowing it to complete development in a single year rather than the two years sometimes observed in northern climates. This faster development means ash tree decline can progress more rapidly than in colder regions.

While ash trees are not the dominant species in most Atlanta neighborhoods (unlike Midwestern cities where ash was massively overplanted), they are present in sufficient numbers that their loss would be noticeable—particularly in parks, along waterways, and in older residential areas. Georgia's forestry agencies continue to monitor and manage EAB spread across the state.

EastLake Tree Services offers comprehensive EAB management including species identification, preventive injection treatments, and safe removal of dead ash trees. Call 404-850-1174 or get a free consultation.