Emerald ash borer identified and confirmed in Lakewood

Published on September 19, 2024

The City of Lakewood has identified its first case of emerald ash borer beetles, an invasive insect that infests and kills North American species of ash trees. The case was detected in a small area in central Lakewood and was confirmed by CSU Extension in Jefferson County.

Emerald ash borers were first detected in Colorado in Boulder County in 2013. Since then, the destructive wood-boring beetles have been found in several areas of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield and Larimer counties. In 2020, a case was reported in Arvada.

Emerald ash borer beetles target, and eventually kill, ash tree species of the green and white varieties including the "autumn purple ash," a popular white ash variety in Colorado. On average, 15 percent of urban trees are ash trees.

"Look for the distinctive D-shaped exit holes, bark splits and S-shaped tunnels called galleries underneath the bark, gradual canopy thinning and dieback, abnormal shoots of growth, smaller than normal leaves, and heavy woodpecker activity," Lakewood Forestry Supervisor Luke Killoran explained as the ways to identify the insect.

Residents can take steps to protect healthy ash trees, but certain options such as insecticide treatments depend on the size and health of each tree. Large, high-value healthy trees might warrant early treatment as "insurance" much more than young, unhealthy or poorly located trees. When hiring someone to evaluate or apply pesticide treatments to protect ash trees, make sure the individual is a certified arborist and the applicator is licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture as a commercial pesticide applicator.

Because emerald ash borers kill trees over a period of several years, trees that are not candidates for insecticide treatments will eventually need to be removed. Residents should follow available guidelines for properly disposing of any infested wood.

Lakewood has been prioritizing ash tree insecticide treatment and removal for several years. Learn about emerald ash borers and find a licensed tree contractor by visiting Lakewood.org/Invasive-Insects. For more resources visit the CSU Extension website.

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