Identification

Adult beetles are bright metallic green beetles that are approximately 1/3 inch long and 1/16 inch wide. Adults emerge from infested trees in mid-May and peaking in late June and continue into July. Females will lay about 75 eggs on the bark of branches from late-May through July. Hatching occurs a few weeks later. Larvae then borrow in through the bark and feed sapwood. This disrupts the flow of water and nutrients within the tree. In spring the larvae emerge as adults and the cycle begins again.

Infestation Symptoms

Include canopy dieback, D-shaped exit holes, woodpecker holes in the bark, shoots sprouting from the tree trunks and S-shaped larval galleries underneath the bark. Trees can be infested for up to three to five years before demonstrating any of these symptoms.

Geneva’s Response

City officials have been inspecting suspect parkway trees and it has been determined EAB infestations have been identified in all areas of the community. To date, more than 2,700 of the 2,800 infested parkway ash trees have been removed.
 
More than 11,000 trees make up the City of Geneva’s parkway canopies. The ash species accounted for about 20% of that number. As a proactive measure to limit the possible damage from an EAB infestation, the City ceased the planting of parkway ash trees in 2002.
 
As a result of the Dutch Elm Disease that devastated Geneva’s Elm tree population in the late 1970s, the City implemented a parkway tree planting program to diversify tree species to avoid a reoccurrence of another heavily populated canopy devastation.
 
Geneva has implemented the City Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan that has been approved by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. The City’s management plan will follow all state recommendations.
 
The City continues to monitor the remaining parkway ash trees and will remove them on an as-needed basis. The City will not perform pruning on parkway ash trees. Replacement parkway trees will be planted via the Parkway Tree Replacement Program.

Public Assistance

To help prevent the spread of EAB, do not move ashwood or ash firewood out of the quarantine area. It has been determined the spread of EAB can be attributed to the movement of infested ash firewood.
 
It is important for residents of Geneva to be aware and vigilant in inspecting their ash trees for this pest. If you suspect a parkway tree appears dying or diseased or have questions please contact the City's Public Works Department at 630-232-1502.