Emerald ash borer and Asian long-horned beetle, both exotic insect pests, pose a serious threat to Montréal’s urban forests. The Asian longhorned beetle has not yet been sighted in Quebec.
June 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirms the presence of the emerald ash borer in Carignan, in the Montérégie region, on the outskirts of Montréal.
July 2011 - Confirmed sighting of the emerald ash borer in Montreal.
April 2012 - The City of Montreal establishes an action plan to combat the invasive species and solicits the cooperation of its citizens.
April 2014 – Unfortunately, emerald ash borers are gaining ground! The City’s strategy is now to slow their spread, giving itself time to better plan which ash trees should be saved and to inform ash tree owners of their options.