For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
August 8, 2007

REDICK:  Education best defense in stopping Emerald Ash Borer

WHEATON ― DuPage County has developed a Readiness Team to work on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) issue. The team is made up of staff and elected officials. Since the first sighting of the Emerald Ash Borer in DuPage County, the team has been working on training employees to be on the lookout for signs of EAB.

Jeff Redick, Chairman of the County’s Environmental Committee, says education is the best tool in containing the spread of EAB.

“Residents should be aware of the signs, symptoms and steps required to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer,” said Redick.  “Knowing what to look for, and how to best identify the signs of the Emerald Ash Borer, is the best course of action.  Through daily inspections, and in working with the county, we can help contain Emerald Ash Borer.”

According to Redick, once residents have determined that they have an ash tree they should conduct regular inspections of its health by looking for the following signs and symptoms:

• Bright, metallic green bug
• D-shaped exit holes in the trunk of the tree
• Bark splitting with increased woodpecker activity
• Epicormic shoots that grow from the trunk and roots of the tree.

“It should be noted that the Emerald Ash Borer can be easily transported in logs, branches and firewood. People need to be sure to purchase any of these items from a known source and ask if any of the products are made from ash trees,” said Redick.  “Residents should also avoid planting new ash trees.”

For additional information, as well as photographs to help with the detection and education of the Emerald Ash Borer, please visit www.illinoiseab.com or www.emeraldashborer.info or www.mortonarboretum.org.

If it is believed that a tree may be infested with the Emerald Ash Borer, contact a city forester, a certified arborist, the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Center office (630) 955-1123 or the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic (630) 719-2424. If Emerald Ash Borer is suspected after consulting one of these experts call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 312-742-3385. 

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