Emerald Ash Borer Found in Wheaton

The City of Wheaton announced that the emerald ash borer has been found in the city limits. If you think you spot a borer, bring it to the attention of the association. I have not met our new "Landscaping Director" who will, I expect, be at tomorrow's association meeting. The press release suggests the owner call the city but in our case, we as individuals don't own the trees, so I suggest we contact FUPM in the event of an emerald ash borer sighting. Our previous president was concerned about this. We have a large number of ash trees. These are an asset.

The press release is at the end of this post and there is also a link to a short informational video.

Click for Instructional Video on the Emerald Ash Borer

PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Wheaton

WHEATON, Ill. – The City of Wheaton has received official confirmation from the Illinois Department of Agriculture of the emerald ash borer’s presence in Wheaton. An ash tree in the parkway of the 2100 block of Glencoe Street was confirmed to be infested with the emerald ash borer.

Upon learning of the tree on Glencoe Street, the City of Wheaton’s Forestry Division inspected parkway ash trees within a half-mile radius of the infested tree and identified two additional trees that were infested. Both trees were located within two blocks of the tree on Glencoe Street in northeastern Wheaton. The Forestry Division removed all three infested trees on April 16.

In May 2008, the City began implementing an ash tree reduction program in response to the threat of an emerald ash borer infestation. Crews will continue with the program but will remove trees confirmed to be infested before other ash trees. The Forestry Division will continue to monitor the ash trees in the area for signs of infestation.

Signs of a tree infested with the emerald ash borer include D-shaped exit holes in the tree’s bark, heavy woodpecker damage (as woodpeckers like emerald ash borer larvae), dieback in the canopy of the tree, and sprouts growing from the tree’s trunk and roots. If you think your ash tree has been infested, call the Forestry Division at 630-260-2122.