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Background Information

The EAB is a small green bug about the size of a penny. The adult beetles can be found on the outside parts of the tree. Most are found on the branches. The larvae feed on the inside part of the tree and it blocks the nutrition’s from traveling up and down the tree and it makes the tree vomer able to fires and to other animals. The larvae kill the tree, the adults do not kill the tree. The adults spread the beetles more by matting. The eggs are laid in the trees bark and the larvae settles in the tree. 

 

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An ecosystem is a group of interconnected plants, animals, and elements in a biome. There is 6 different ecosystems in Colorado Springs. We have mountains, plants, and forests. The forest ecosystem is mostly pine trees but some are oak and spruce. There are lots of animals. We will tell you about 4 of them. There are antelope and mule deer. Rabbits live in the plains. Birds make nests in the forest.

Food Chain

 

A food chain is an ecosystem of animals that rely on each other to survive. The food chain is divided into 4 sections, Primary producers, Primary consumers, Secondary consumers, and tertiary consumers. The EAB is a primary consumer. Primary consumers are the animals with the least number of predators. The producers feed the consumers so their population. The energy flows throughout the food chain in a never-ending cycle. Food chains can be disrupted when invasive species enter the environment.

 

Impact of Emerald Ash Borer

The impact of invasive species is not good. Invasive species destroy the plants and animal environment. Then native animals will not have any food to live off of. The invasive species will not have any natural predators to keep the population down. Then they will spread and damage even more. The EAB is spreading in Colorado and their population is quickly increasing.

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If an invasive species came to Colorado then our forests will be harmed and some of our trees will start to die. The EAB will eat the trees that the native bugs in Colorado depend on and it will hurt their population. The EAB will have no natural predators so they will start overpopulating and it will mess up the food chain and hurt other animals. It will slow down the energy in the food chain.

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Action Plan

 

1. Measure diameter of Ash tree.

 

    2.If it is greater than 15inches, get a professional to treat the tree.

 

    3.Only treat healthy trees.

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    4. Get a professional to cut down dead trees. You can tell if they are dead if the leaves loose color and the bark begins falling off.

   

    5. Have professionals transport the firewood.

 

 

                           The EAB could adapt to the insecticide, and so they might not be able to be treated. EAB will then spread uncontrollably and will start effecting other animals. Natural selection will accrue and the EAB will take over our environment.  

 

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