Remember the devastation caused by Dutch elm disease? The impact of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) could be worse. It is a horrifying thought.

The next time you walk or drive through your neighborhood, take note of the number of ash trees you see. They are popular shade trees that comprise approximately 20% of our urban forest. Each one is in danger.

On June 13, 2006, the Illinois Department of Agriculture announced that the dreaded Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) was discovered in Kane County. Officials estimate that the insect may have been chewing through Illinois’ ash trees for the past 4 – 5 years. Currently, it is difficult to estimate the extent of the infestation.

Adult Emerald Ash Borers move quickly and the larvae eat ravenously. Since 2002 (when EAB was discovered in the Midwest), at least 15 million ash trees have been lost in Michigan alone. An estimated 15 - 20 million ash trees are dead or dying as a result of the insect’s presence in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ontario, Canada. In some areas, entire communities have been stripped of their ash trees.

Facts about Emerald Ash Borer:
  • EAB attack all ash trees, regardless of the tree’s health.
  • Adults are small – 1/2” long, 1/8” wide – metallic green beetles.
  • Larvae chew S-shaped galleries beneath the bark, cutting-off the flow of water and nutrients.

Visible Signs and Symptoms of an Infestation:
  • Crown dieback and suckers sprouting from the tree’s trunk
  • 1/8” diameter D-shaped exit holes in the tree’s trunk and upper branches
  • Loose bark and vertical splitting of the bark
  • Bark damage caused by woodpeckers

The long-term forecast for Illinois’ ash trees is unsure; however, there are ways you can help slow the spread of EAB.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
It will take a community-wide effort to save our ash trees from the Emerald Ash Borer. Here are a few ways that you can help:

BE LOUD. Spread the word about EAB to your friends and neighbors. Be sure they know the warning signs of an infestation and encourage them to look for the pest.

BE VIGILANT. Look for the signs and symptoms of an EAB infestation in your community. (Look carefully! An EAB infestation in its early stages is quite difficult to detect.) If you see anything suspicious, contact the ISA-certified arborists at Autumn Tree Care Experts. We will send an arborist to the site to evaluate the situation.

BE CAUTIOUS. Avoid spreading EAB. Do not move firewood or nursery stock from areas where EAB has been discovered. Also, while camping or traveling in infested areas, be aware that EAB may try to travel with you.

BE PROACTIVE. Before EAB becomes an issue in your neighborhood, carefully assess the health of the trees on your property. If any of your ash trees are showing signs of decline, this might be a good time to diversify your landscape with non-ash species. If your ash trees are in fine health, consider proactive treatment options such as systemic insecticide applications. These preventative measures may help deter EAB from feasting on your trees. Be aware, though, that if EAB is discovered in your region, regulatory agencies may order the removal of all ash trees within a specified quarantine area.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Updates regarding the presence of the EAB in Chicagoland can be found in the most recent issues of the Autumn Tree Care Experts newsletter:
Additional information — including details regarding quarantine zones and eradication efforts — is available at www.emeraldashborer.info, or by telephoning the Illinois Department of Agriculture's Pesticide Hotline: 800.641.3934.