Invasive species poses threat to thousands of Nashville trees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A small insect is costing the city of Nashville big money, we’re talking millions of dollars, and it’s killing thousands of trees.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a destructive intruder.

It’s an insect Nashville horticulturist Jennifer Smith has dedicated over eight years to studying and educating on.

“They said, ‘Jennifer, this will be the biggest issue you will have in your professional career,’ and they have been right,” Smith told WSMV4 when asked her about the battle against the insect.

The Emerald Ash Borer first showed up in Nashville in 2014 and likely traveled to America in packing crates.

The insects are so small, Smith said they are difficult to see flying around.

They like to make their homes in Ash Trees. There are 1.6 million Ash trees in Nashville alone making up about 6% of the tree canopy.

The Ash Borer kills the tree by using it to create a breeding ground for their offspring. They eat the leaves, then lay eggs that hatch. Over the course of one to three years the larvae eat through the trees causing the tree to rot and die.

Life cycle of the Emerald Ash Borer — Life cycle of the Emerald Ash Borer(Metro Tree Advisory Committee)

Randall Lantz with Metro Parks said the city has been working on marking the trees that are infested and need to be removed. They will be removed in phases.

He said they use a blue mark to indicate the trees slated for removal.

An estimated 2,500 ash trees will be removed in Warner Parks alone.

So how does the city know what to look for?

“It starts at the top and then they progress down,” Lantz said.

He “D” shaped holes in the bark and “S” shaped tunnels under the bark are indications your tree is infested. Die-back of leaves on the tree is another sign.

Found in trees infested with EAB — Found in trees infested with EAB(Metro Tree Advisory Committee)

Found in trees infested with EAB — Found in trees infested with EAB(Metro Tree Advisory Committee)

Smith said if a tree in your yard has these indicators, “The management options are you can treat it, let it die, or remove it.” Certain insecticides can help treat ash trees if the problem is caught early on.

Both Smith and Lantz said the longer you wait, the greater the risk of the tree snapping and falling.

Copyright 2023 WSMV. All rights reserved.