County not immune to ash borer bug

Local residents not yet acquainted with the emerald ash borer bug, know this theyre already here.

The small, metallic, non-native beetle invaded the United States about 12 years ago and is on its way to eating the countrys ash tree population into extinction.

Probably all of them are going to be gone within the next few years, Minookas Public Works Superintendent Rob Tonarelli said of the villages ash trees.

The ash borer is a small green beetle that lays its eggs between the crevices of tree bark.

When the eggs hatch, ash borer larvae burrow into the tree, eating their way to the trees inner bark and phloem. By doing this, the borers essentially cut off the trees circulation, making it impossible for it to transport water and nutrients throughout its branches.

According to Tonarelli, Minooka has about 750 ash trees growing in parkways and parks throughout the village, and thats not including the numerous residential-owned trees.

Last year alone, Minooka public works removed about 100 ash trees because of EAB infestations. Tonarelli estimated the removal costs at about $30,000, but he anticipates spending another $60,000 in the coming year as the infestation seems to be spreading.

Finding and planting suitable replacement trees will only compound the mitigation costs.

Were likely going to exceed what we have budgeted this year for tree removal, Tonarelli said.

As of 2013, the U.S. Department of Agriculture detected EAB epidemics in 20 states, including Illinois, leading the Agriculture Department of to brand the bug as an extremely destructive beetle that poses an enormous threat to North Americas ash resources in the most recent USDA report on the insect.

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County not immune to ash borer bug