Woodpecker damage to ash bark indicates that there are insects present that the woodpeckers are feeding on. It could be other insect species and not EAB, but lots off woodpecker damage to an ash tree warrants checking closely for other signs of EAB.
A split in the bark on a white ash tree branch showing the serpentine EAB gallery below. As the tree tries to heal over last years wound left by a feeding EAB larva the bark can sometimes split.
D-Shaped EAB adult beetle exit hole. This is a classic sign of EAB, but can be very hard to find. EAB also start feeding in the tops of trees, so often there will not be any exit holes in the trunk.
Ash tree branch after the bark has been peeled using a draw knife, and exposing EAB tunnels on the wood just under the bark.
EAB tunneling under the removed bark. The tunnels in the whiter bark are newer and are interspersed with tunnels that are already decayed from previous years. The continued attack of the same tree over many years eventually will girdle branches and the trunk, killing the tree.
An EAB larva gently pulled from the exposed tunnel after the bark was peeled. This is a fully-grown larva that is waiting until its second summer to emerge as an adult beetle.
A small EAB larva from an egg laid earlier this summer.
EAB serpentine tunneling is visible after the bark is carefully peeled from the tree.
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