This document printed from the University of Illinois Extension Boone County at http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/boone/
NOTICE: The Emerald Ash Borer was recently found in Marengo (McHenry County). This puts the EAB within 7 miles of the Boone County border. Please be on the lookout for any signs or symptoms of the EAB in your ash trees.
If you suspect your ash tree may be infested with the Emerald Ash Borer, please call the University of Illinois Extension office - Boone County office at (815) 3710
The Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in the United States in 2002 in the southeast Michigan area, near Detroit. In 2006 the Emerald Ash Borer was found in northern Illinois, more specifically in the Chicago suburbs. Since 2006 the EAB has continued to make its way west, across the northern portion of Illinois. To date the EAB has been found Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will, and as far south as Bureau, McLean, and LaSalle counties.
The EAB is known to attack only ash trees in the Fraxinus family. This includes the following ash trees, including any cultivars of these species: white ash, green ash, blue ash, black ash, and the pumpkin ash.
To date the Emerald Ash Borer has been found in both nearby Marengo and DeKalb/Sycamore. This places the EAB within seven miles of the eastern Boone County border and 15 miles of the southeastern Boone County border.
Emerald Ash Borer Activity: The adult beetle will feed on the leaves of ash trees but causes minimal damage. However, the larvae will feed on the tender inner bark area of ash trees. Once the larvae pupate, the beetle will emerge from the tree through a very small 'D'-shaped hole. Once the adult female beetle mates she lays her eggs on the bark of the ash tree. When the eggs hatch, the tiny larve will burrow into the inner bark layer of the tree and begin feeding. Thus, the cycle starts over again.
Signs and Symptoms of the Emerald Ash Borer: As the larvae begin to feed on the tender inner bark area they create a series of tunnels under the bark which prohibits the nutrients from flowing upward from the root system. This causes the canopy of the tree to begin dieback. This starts in the top one-third of the canopy until the tree is bare.
Epicormic shoots or new exterior growth from the roots and trunk will appear.
Tree bark will begin to split vertically exposing the serpentine galleries or tunnels under the bark.
As the larvae continue feeding they create more tunnels or serpentine galleries along with 'D'-shaped exit holes.
And finally, woodpecker activity increases and creates noticable damage to the tree bark.
Identifying an Ash Tree: Branches and buds are directly opposite each other, not alternate. Leaves are compound, consisting of 5-11 leaflets with either smooth or toothed margins. Download a flier on Ash Tree Identification at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/boone/downloads/19113.pdf.
Course of Action for Homeowners: The University of Illinois Extension of Boone County's view is that you may choose to either remove your ash tree now or begin treatment. The general recommendation for homeowners is that treatment can begin once the Emerald Ash Borer is found within a 15 mile range.
There are several insecticide treatment methods available to the homeowner. Only one researched method is recommended that the homeowner can purchase and apply. Other treatment methods are available but must be applied by an individual with a pesticide applicator license. In a recent study conducted by five universities (University of Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Purdue, and University of Wisconsin Extension) field tests were conducted using numerous products and, in some cases, a combination of products or adjustments to the manufacturer's application directions. This information can be found in the "Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer" bulletin at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/boone/downloads/18944.pdf.
Any questions regarding the Emerald Ash Borer in Boone County can be referred to the University of Illinois Extension office in Belvidere (815) 544-3710.
How Has Boone County Prepared Itself for the Emerald Ash Borer: Beginning in January 2009 the University of Illinois and their Master Gardeners began taking a proactive stand against EAB. The discoveries of the Emerald Ash Borer in McHenry and DeKalb counties prompted Boone County to begin taking actions in the fight against the EAB. Although Boone County has yet to find a positive confirmation of the Emerald Ash Borer they are taking the issue seriously. Late last year, Earle Mailand, County Director, and Karen Durtschi, Master Gardener Coordinator met to look at possible ways Extension could assist the county with the impending EAB problem.
Starting in January the University of Illinois Extension office started a process to increase public awareness for EAB. The Extension office began holding a series of monthly meetings with representation from the county, cities, townships and other public agencies. The group began to define a plan that would deal with the EAB once it is been found in Boone. While the EAB discoveries have been gradually making its way towards the county's eastern and southern borders, this group has been proactively working on a plan to handle public notification, homeowner options, removal, and disposal of infected ash trees. Paul Deizman and Mark Cinnamon from the Illinois Department of Agriculture have been instrumental in providing guidance to Boone County throughout this process.
One of the action items that emerged from the county-wide meetings was a request by county administration and township supervisors for Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension Office to provide support on the EAB efforts. From this request the Master Gardeners took on a unique and extensive project. They were asked to conduct an ash tree inventory on all county and township roadways to help their officials understand the potential impact of the EAB. Master Gardeners were given specific training on the Emerald Ash Borer and ash tree identification. Teams have since been dispatched with hand-held GPS instruments to record the exact location of ash trees as they also evaluate the overall health of the trees. The coordinates and tree information will be submitted to the Boone County GIS unit to be plotted on county maps reflecting the location and health of a specific tree. This inventory and the information being gathered is proving to be extremely important in determining the allocation of resources by the county, townships, and cities throughout Boone County as they finalize their plans in dealing with the Emerald Ash Borer problem.
For more information on this activity, contact the Extension office at (815) 544-3710.
