Life cycle of emerald ash borer

•Egg
•Larvae
•Pupae
•Adult

Adult emerald ash borer comes out in spring. About 7 to 10 days later they mate and females lay eggs a little more than a week later. Each female lays about 75 light yellow colored eggs on the bark of ash tree. In 7-10 days the eggs hatch.

After hatching a worm like larvae of emerald ash borer emerge and begin to bore its way through the bark and into the tree’s vascular tissue which supplies trees with water and nutrients. The larvae spend the whole summer just eating and boring. As they chew on the cambium they form S- shaped tunnels. Larvae overwinter under bark.

In the early spring, the larvae enter the pupal stage. During this stage the pupae emerald ash borer remains under the bark till it completely finishes its development into adult beetles.

While existing the trees the adult beetles form D-shaped holes in the tree bark. The adult emerald ash borer is a small beetle. It got its name for the emerald green color and its habits of boring holes into and out of ash trees. The adult emerald ash borer has three body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Its body formed in the shape of a bullet with a flat head. The emerald ash borer has three pairs of legs and a pair of metallic green and a pair of more delicate inner wings. 0.3- 0.6 inch in length.

The adult beetles live about 20 days, lightly feed on the leaves and do not fly farther than 0.5 mile from their home tree. During this period of time, they mate, lay eggs and start the cycle all over again.

For more information on emerald ash borer, its identification and damage, please visit CSU fact sheet.

If you have question about emerald ash borer or would like to get an estimate on protecting your trees from emerald ash borer, please give us a call at (720)248-0000 or contact us today by filling our form.