Village Removes 5 Times More Ash Trees Than in 2011

As if excessive heat and dryness weren't enough, area ash trees are battling another foe—an "exponentially growing" swarm of emerald ash borers.

A program manager for the Illinois Department of Agriculture recently told the Chicago Tribune that although the destructive Asian beetle first reared its head in the area in 2006, its population has picked up this year more than ever before.

"Now that it's really established in areas," Scott Schirmer, IDOA emerald ash borer program manager, said in the Tribune report. "It has hunkered down and started reproducing like crazy."

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March heat caused the trees to sprout leaves early, he said. Following a cool-off period, they had to restart again. Meanwhile, warm temps were promoting reproduction for the beetle, Schirmer said.

predicts that all green and white ash trees will die as a result of the invasion. The metallic beetle is no larger than a penny but packs a wallop the size of a Red Army, .

She said tiny beetle larvae deposits under tree bark, feeds on tree veins and prevents a supply of nutrients and water from being delivered to vital organs, thus leading to a tree's demise.

Public Works Director Dale Schepers has said the village plans to remove about five times as many ash trees as last year—around 1,000 are damaged, according to the Tribune report.

"The village has budgeted about $160,000 for a contractor and an additional $100,000 for replacement trees, which will be planted in the fall," Schepers said, according to the story. "Still, that amount will likely replace only about half the trees that need to be removed, he said."

The removal process began last month and will continue through the summer season.

Read the full Chicago Tribune story for even more information and see the attached pdf. for a map of Illinois' infestation.

Get the Facts

• The pest attacks only ash trees.
• Adult Beetles are metallic green and about one-half inch long.
• Adults leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in Spring.
• Woodpeckers like EAB larvae; heavy woodpecker damage on ash trees may be a sign of infestation.
• Firewood cannot be moved outside of many states including Illinois because of a federal EAB quarantine.
• It likely came from Asia in wood-packing material.

Source: Illinois Department of Agriculture