Emerald Ash Borer Found in Lake Bluff

The presence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been confirmed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDA) and documented within the southwest quadrant of the (west of Green Bay Road) on May 10.

The Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic beetle that was unknown in North America until June 2002 when it was discovered as the cause for the decline of many ash trees in southeast Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, Canada. EAB has been identified as the causative agent in ash tree mortality and decline; adult beetles are metallic green in color and are about one-half inch long. They leave a D-shaped exit hole in the bark when they emerge in spring.

According to the IDA, the severity of any EAB infestation is very difficult to quantify. A confirmed presence of EAB anywhere typically indicates a larger, more widespread EAB population is likely nearby.

Presently, all or parts of 23 northeast Illinois counties (including Lake County) are quarantined by the IDA. EAB has already been confirmed in the Village of Libertyville, as well as the Waukegan and North Chicago.

Newly affected trees may show few, if any symptoms and may appear healthy and green for up to a few years. According to the IDA, all ash trees are at risk and will become infested. Residents should plan accordingly by assuming their ash trees are now infested.

There are approximately 800 public ash trees in Lake Bluff, or slightly over 10 percent of theVillage’s public urban forest. In an attempt to slow the spread of EAB, the Village will destroy declining public ash trees and provide insecticidal treatments to a few of the largest and best public ash tree specimens.

Treatment with systemic insecticides on individual trees which are not yet severely infested is an option for individual landowners to consider on a treeby- tree basis to try to protect a single tree; such treatment has a risk of failure if trees are already infested and is not guaranteed to be ultimately successful on any specific tree.