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 The 2015 survey of traps detected EAB in 10 new counties in
Illinois: Madison, Mercer, Jackson, Saline, Hamilton, Wayne,
Clay, Jefferson, Washington, and Bond. The addition of 10 new
counties has brought the total count of confirmed counties to
60.
“The survey results this year support deregulation with nearly
60 percent of our counties confirmed positive for EAB,” said
Plant and Pesticide Specialist Supervisor Scott Schirmer. “Over
the past decade, the regulations and quarantines have served
their purpose to slow the rate of spread and afford people time
to manage for this pest. However, there comes a time when the
pest is too widespread to continue to regulate, and this is our
time.”
Previously EAB presence was confirmed in 50 counties, but 61 of
Illinois’ 102 counties were under a state quarantine, which was
intended to prevent artificial or human assisted spread of the
beetle.
“Even though the state of Illinois is lifting its in-state EAB
quarantine, I urge all Illinoisans to remain vigilant against
the man-assisted spread of not only this pest, but all invasive
species,” said Acting Agriculture Director Warren Goetsch.
“Illinois will remain part of a federal quarantine, meaning
firewood or other ash related products cannot travel into a
state that currently has regulations. I urge people to consider
the potential impacts of their actions, in general, before they
move items like firewood. We’ve witnessed the impacts EAB has
had on our trees and budgets, and we want to prevent
introduction and spread of other current and future invasive
species.”
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Since the first detection of the pest near Detroit, Michigan, in
2002, the beetle has killed more than 250 million ash trees. The
borer, known for its distinctive, metallic green wing color, is
native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees,
causing the trees to starve and eventually die. The tiny beetle
often is difficult to detect, especially in newly-infested trees.
Signs of infestation include thinning and yellowing of leaves,
D-shaped holes in the bark of the trunk or branches and basal
shoots. Each year Illinois Department of Agriculture officials
submit samples from various purple EAB traps throughout the state
and send them to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) to confirm the presence of EAB.
Anyone who suspects an ash tree has been infested should contact
their county Extension office, their village forester or the
Illinois Department of Agriculture at (815) 787-5476.
For further information about the beetle, visit www.IllinoisEAB.com.
[Rebecca Clark, Illinois Department
of Agriculture]
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