Consumers Urged To Use Caution In Considering Emerald Ash Borer Treatments

Officials Discuss Treatments, Detection Survey In Daylong Meeting

LISLE, IL (June 29, 2006) – Owners of homes and businesses who are already cautiously looking for Emerald ash borer (EAB) may want to be cautious with something else: contractors offering applications that will prevent your ash tree from becoming infested with EAB. The Morton Arboretum does not endorse any product at this time for that purpose.

“Scientific testing on pesticides is not yet conclusive,” said Fredric Miller, Ph.D., entomologist at the Morton Arboretum.

Furthermore, the United States Department of Agriculture does not endorse any pesticides as a treatment for Emerald ash borer. Homeowners should understand that, even if they treat their trees, such trees would not be exempt if ash tree removals are mandated for eradication.

The topic of tree treatments emerged during a Tuesday meeting hosted and chaired by the Arboretum of 45 State, Federal and local officials along with representatives of private industry and the University of Illinois Extension Service.

During the meeting, state officials said that ash trees in 30-square miles of Kane County have been inspected, with no additional EAB detected. Initial inspections within a half-mile of the yard where the borer was found in The Windings of Ferson Creek subdivision east of Lily Lake detected 19 infested ash trees on seven properties. Since that time, the state has had 10-15 people out every day, including two tree climbers, continuing the search for any possible additional infestations, officials said. Because EAB adults emerge between May and August, property owners are encouraged to continue their vigilance through the coming months.

On July 17 at the Kane County Government Center, there is a 1:00 p.m. public hearing scheduled to declare infested ash trees a “nuisance,” followed by a 2:00 p.m. public hearing where officials will quarantine the movement of ash products out of the area. The specific size and boundaries of the quarantine area have not yet been determined.

One in five trees in the Chicago urban area is ash, and there are an estimated 130-million ash trees in Illinois, therefore a large EAB infestation would be devastating to Illinois.

Officials stressed that people should not move firewood – but instead, buy firewood at your destination and burn all of it before leaving to avoid the possible further spread of EAB.

Any suspected EAB find should be reported to your city forester, county extension expert or the Arboretum’s Plant Clinic at 630/719-2424. If the suspected find warrants further investigation, callers will be directed to the Illinois Department of Agriculture hotline: 800/641-3934 allowing the state to compile a database of such calls. If appropriate, an expert will be dispatched to perform an on-site inspection. At least 75 such inspections have already been done, officials said.

EAB was first detected in the United States in 2002 in the Detroit area. It has killed at least 15-million trees in Michigan; between 15-20 million ash trees are dead or dying in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

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