The company’s injection system helps ensure the insecticide will be distributed throughout the tree’s vascular system.Photo: ArborSystems
Pesticide producers have been working for years to come up with new and better ways to eliminate the exotic beetle known as the emerald ash borer. And no wonder: the insect has killed hundreds of millions of ash trees in North America since it was found in Michigan 14 years ago. Scientists believe it traveled to the United States via cargo ships from its native Asia.
Among the latest products to join the fight is an insecticide-miticide known as Emamectin Benzoate, which ArborSystems has added to the line of chemicals used in its Wedgle Direct-Inject Tree Injection System. ArborSystems has branded the new offering as Boxer Insecticide-Miticide.
ArborSystems stresses that its system is the only trunk injection application that doesn’t require a drilled hole, making it possible to treat almost any tree in five minutes or less, the company says.
Chip Doolittle, president of Omaha, Nebraska-based ArborSystems, says the technology significantly increases the number of trees a worker can treat in a day.
Boxer Insecticide-Miticide is available in 120 milliliter and 1,000 milliliter “Quick-Connect Chemical Packs” from ArborSystems. The company says it is formulated to control mature and immature insect and mite pests of deciduous and coniferous trees, as well as palm trees.
While the adult emerald ash borer can cause some harm by nibbling foliage after emerging from an ash tree, it’s the insect’s larvae that threaten a tree’s survival. The larvae feed on an ash tree’s inner bark, compromising its vascular system’s ability to circulate water and nutrients throughout the tree.
ArborSystems says Boxer Insecticide-Miticide is formulated to translocate in the tree’s vascular system when injected. It must be placed into active sapwood, the company says, and will actively control pests for up to two years.
Trunk injections are “people friendly,” Doolittle said.
“Children and pets are not exposed to chemical spray or open chemical containers,” he said, “and there is no need to cover outdoor toys, play equipment, pools, furniture or vehicles.”
For details on all pests against which Boxer Insecticide-Miticide is effective, visit ArborSystems’ website here.
