Ash Wednesday

Time once again to turn our attention to the sturdiest of trees, the ashes, genus Fraxinus. Today's beautiful wet snow festooning branches (quali) made ash limbs stand out in stark contrast. Their stout twigs with opposite branching frosted with snow reminded me of that Lenten treat, hot-crossed buns. All our native ashes are in danger of going "ashes to ashes dust to dust" before their time due to an invasive beetle from Asia.

The beautifully named and duly appointed Emerald Ash Borer has devastated ash trees in Michigan.

Maine foresters and conservationists are concerned about Emerald Ash Borers who are making their way east. Maine's tribal basket makers, manufacturers of baseball bats in Wisconsin, and canoe builders in Maine, all of whom use ash wood in their crafts are likewise concerned.

Like all members of the metallic wood borer family, the Buprestid beetles, ash borers burrow through ash inner bark eating all the yummy sweet cambium. Speaking of yummy, these hammerhead larva are quite delicious and taste like cashews!

The culinary calligraphy of these beetles compete with the tree for nutrients and eventually can girdle the tree, starving it to death.

The invasive Emerald Ash Borer has not yet been spotted in Maine, but it's on its way. We have several lovely copper and emerald green native metallic wood boring beetles too. So, if you find one of these beauties don't freak out. Catch it if you can and contact the Entomology Dept. of Maine's Forest Service. The Abbe Museum is organizing a panel discussion on the Emerald Ash Borer problem which will be held at COA this May.

Happy Ash Wednesday,
The Dorr Museum of Natural History