The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a small, flying beetle, native to Asia. Since its discovery in Michigan in 2012 it has spread across the country and into Massachusetts. The EAB can kill a tree fast, within a few years, because it bores directly under the bark, where the tree's conductive system is.

In 2020 Arlington’s Tree Division, through its contractor Barrett Tree East, began preventative treatment against EAB as EAB had been detected in the neighboring communities of Somerville, Cambridge, Winchester, Belmont, and Lexington. In August of 2020 EAB was discovered in East Arlington. In response, the Town doubled its treatment efforts since 2021.

The plan is to treat good and fair Ash trees in the Town’s inventory, which include street trees, schools, and trees in less dense areas (not forested areas). Ash trees make up approximately 10% of the Town’s inventory.

In August of 2023 the Town, through its contractor, Northeastern Tree Service, will continue treatment of Ash trees.

The Town will monitor outcomes of these treatments annually.

The trees are being treated with a systemic pesticide, TreeAzin. TreeAzin is a product derived from seed extracts of the Neem tree and is administered by injection at the trunk of the tree. TreeAzin is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) for use in organic production in the U.S. This pesticide is not hazardous to humans or animals.

Read how you can identify and report the EAB.
Michigan State University website on EAB

What do I need to do?

If you have an ash tree on your property, please consider one of the following:

Treat - If you have not yet begun a treatment program, we recommend that you work with a certified arborist to develop an ongoing treatment plan for your Ash tree. It is far more cost-effective to treat a healthy Ash tree than it is to remove it. You can find a certified arborist at www.massarbor.org.

Remove - Dead and dying trees become a risk for public safety. Work with an arborist to safely remove and replace unhealthy Ash trees with different species. Doing nothing may put you and your property at unnecessary risk. Safely removing the tree is crucial as the entire state of Massachusetts is currently part of the national quarantine zone, limiting the movement of all hardwood firewood, and green wood products, nursery stock, and any plant materials from any ash species in an effort to stop the spread of the beetle.