WDNR releases 'toolbox' of information

     The infestation is thought to be 3-6 years old though given the extensive damage to the trees identified so far I would lean towards the 6 years rather than the 3.  It looks like there have been several generations unless the number initially introduced was very high.  The homeowner said that one of the trees looked sickly when she moved in 4 years ago.  Until the delimitation is done and trees taken down for autopsy we won't know for certain how long the infestation has been present.  Currently 4 properties with 6 trees have been identified (since 6/9/06).
     The introduction was probably by firewood from MI.  The neighborhood is about 30 years old with well established trees, there doesn't seem to be any recent nursery planting to account for an introduction.  The residents are relatively wealthy and we were told typically vacation at summer homes in MI.  Most houses have fireplaces and the homeowner who called in the infestation had asked around and at least one of her neighbors said that they had brought firewood back from their summer place in MI in the past.
     One disturbing item, apparently a certified arborist had been called in this past winter and failed to notice the indications that this could be EAB.  He instead said it was common ash borer (I'm not sure what species this was referring to) and applied an systemic insecticide treatment.  This treatment did not appear to have had any effect, probably due to the extensive tunneling by the very high population of EAB larvae.  While we have been doing outreach to arborists, this example indicates the importance of intensifying these efforts and perhaps focusing on material that can be brought back to staff that didn't attend the conferences or training sessions.  Education of the public in general did work well in this case though, the homeowner was sensitized by local TV and radio news spots and went to a website when she saw the beetles flying around where she got the contact information for IL Dept of Ag and APHIS.
     This neighborhood is a good example of the benefits of diversity in plantings.  While the ash will be removed, they have enough other tree species that they will hardly be noticed.  The replacement trees will be able to grow in a more hospitable environment and not a stripped landscape.  A colleague got some good pictures of the neighborhood diversity of trees and I will pass them on when she sends them over.  They will make a good contrast with those denuded boulevards we have from Detroit.  Diversifying our urban forests will be key to weathering the assaults of invasive pests and diseases now and in the future.