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Emerald Ash Borer

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1. What is EAB?

EAB is an invasive insect new to our area. The pest is native of Asia and was most likely brought to this country in shipping crate lumber. This pest lays eggs on ash trees (the only species it currently infects). The larvae burrow in to the vascular tissue of the trees, just below the surface of the bark. The larvae themselves, causing their decline and ultimate death. All ash tree species are susceptible and will most likely fail within the next few years. Unfortunately, ash specimens are no longer a viable species for our area.

2. Why is this the first time I am hearing about this?

EAB has been in national headlines for several years. It has been the subject of financing and budget discussions in the state and at the local levels for several years. Prior to its discovery in Riverside, several Landmark articles have been written regarding the insect. The first insect was found in a purple trap provided by the Illinois Department of Agriculture in 2010, at which time local newspapers gave it much attention (something they continue to do). Village staff has published notices and updates in editions of the Riverside Review as well as the Village website. The forester first informed the Village administration regarding the insect in a memo submitted in 2006. Prior to its discovery in Riverside, informational door hangers, signage boards, and videos on Riverside TV have been distributed to inform the public.

3. Where is EAB?

EAB is spreading throughout the United States, radially, from what is thought to be the original infestation area near Detroit, Michigan in 2002. All areas of the Village have been found to have EAB infestations in purple traps but only one location, near Ames School, on Southcote and Repton Roads has been confirmed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture in late December of 2011.

4. What are the treatment options?

While there are several treatment options available, the most promising treatments are injectable insecticides. The injectable products must be applied by a professional and are not available for sale to the general public. You should consult a professional, preferably a Certified Arborist, , to discuss treatment options, costs, and effectiveness of the treatments. The following link will provide more information to help you make an informed decision regarding the use of chemical treatments to protect your tree. Insecticide Plan (PDF)

5. Is the Village treating ash trees for EAB?

No. With the lack of proven long term success of treatments, along with long term treatment costs and ash tree species populations within the Village, treatment is not a viable monetary option, nor does the Village staff believe it is a good long term solution to providing a healthy and viable Village forest. The Village has collaborated with the Morton Arboretum to provide some ash trees for experimental treatments at no cost to the Village.

6. Should I treat my parkway tree or privately owned ash trees?

This is a personal choice. As previously stated, there are options (and many options about the options); education is necessary. There are many web sites that can inform you on every aspect of this pest. The Village of Riverside suggest you review further information found on resource websites such as www.emeraldashborer.info. EAB websites hosted by not-for-profit or governmental entities tend to give you the most straight forward information. Keep in mind that teh EAB cannot be eradicated from our landscape, and a long ter financial commitment to treatment is necessary to preserve your tree until its natural demise. The following link is an excellent article submitted by various universities regarding chemical applications and effectiveness. Fact Sheet (PDF)

7. The parkway tree looks so healthy, how do you know it is infested?

There are several symptoms ad signs which show arborists where the pests are. Primary identifies are split bark, D-shaped exit holes , and woodpecker damage. Bark tends to split on the smaller trees a season after feeding has begun. When the bark splits, you can visibly see the feeding galleries. D-shaped exit holes from adult emergence are also an identifier. While many insect pests can leave exit holes, EAB has a distinct size and shape. For mature species, the greatest telling damage is the presence of woodpeckers. As EAB larvae mature, woodpeckers find the larvae irresistible and feed primarily on these during the fall and winter months. The bark of heavily infested trees are riddled with holes from this feeding activity, although only a handful of wounds on a tree can be an excellent identifier of the earliest stage of a big infestation. Heavily infested trees can apprea to be perfectly healthy, unless you know what youare looking for. Once a gree is infested, it is a matter of a brief period of time before the tree will be dead. As in human healthcare, early diagnosis can be made when good health seems obvious. Apparent health does not negate the problem, or its dire prognosis.



Please keep in mind that the Village Forester has received extensive training in this regard and is acting on the community's best interests as a whole. Public safety related to the insect's damage is top priority. Reforestation is a close second.

8. Does this insect harm any other trees?

Ash trees are the only known tree host for EAB. Other trees will not be infested by this insect.

9. How many Village ash trees are there?

There are approximately 300 ash trees located on parkways (road rights-of-way) and Village-owned parcels. This number does not include ash trees located on privately owned parcels or natural areas around the Des Plaines River.

10. Will the Village contact me before removing my infested parkway tree(s)?

When a tree is identified as infested, a white X is put on the tree to inform the resident. This is done as a courtesy to let the resident know the status of the Village-owned tree at their parcel. The tree, with the white X, is typically, but not always left standing in order to allow the resident time to call and have any questions answered. For reasons of efficiency, the Village will not wait to speak with each resident relative to the removal of the Village-owned trees. With the removal of several hundred trees each year, and the added removal of more than a thousand in the next few years as a result of this infestation, contact with each individual is not always possible.

11. Will the Village inspect privately owned trees?

The Village has historically provided limited inspection and advice as it relates to tree issues. This is always a courtesy, and a service which the Village is grateful to supply, as time allows. The Village recommends that you consult a Certified arborist if time is a factor and pricing is requested. It is always a good practice to request credentials, insurance, and references. The Village cannot provide pricing estimates information but three price quotes are recommended.

12. Why does an infected ash tree need to be removed; can we wait until the tree is dead?

When a tree is found to be infested, its expedient removal is recommended in order to prevent the pests from reproducing and increasing the intensity and spread of the problem. Removal and appropriate disposal is consistent with good forestry practice, and is currently mandated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

13. If you identify an infected ash tree on my parkway, will you remove all of the ash trees on my parkway?

The Village will remove trees found to be infested by EAB, or as requested by the adjacent parcel owner for pre-harvest. All residents with Village-owned parkway ash trees are allowed to request the pre-harvesting of the trees in order to give in to the inevitable and get on the replacement planting list more directly. Unless requested, only infested trees will be removed.

14. Will the Village remove the stump once the tree is removed?

Yes. Stumps are added to a list and ground down (removed), hopefully, within the year of the removal of the tree. Grindings are then picked up and topsoil will be used to fill the hole. Ground areas are restored with topsoil and seed.

15. Why do the plants, edgin, and landscape bricks need to be removed prior to stump removal?

The stumping of the tree requires all items to be removed prior to removal.  This will avoid any damage to the equipment and items in proximity of the tree stump..

16. Will the Village remove plants, edging, and landscape brick prior to stump grinding?

No. Since these improvements are not permitted and installed without permission from the Village (and are actually bad for the trees). Village staff will not be utilized for their removal, nor will the Village be responsible for damage that may occur to these personal items during the removal process. Therefore, the stump grinding and tree replacement process will not take place until the parcel owner causes their removal.

17. Will the Village replace the trees that are removed from the parkway?

Yes. It is currently the Village’s policy to replace a majority of removed parkway trees that currently reside within an acceptable planting site in a reasonable amount of time. With the on-set of EAB, the subsequent substantial loss of trees, and the current economy, it is difficult to predict whether the planting program will be able to be funded to the capacity necessary to off-set these large losses within the time frame we currently apply. It is, however, our goal to replace everything that is removed, if the planting site meets current criteria for suitability. It should be noted that some trees have already been planted to replace trees lost to EAB in advance of the infestation.

18. How long do I have to wait for a replacement tree?

It is currently the Village’s policy to replace a majority of removed parkway trees that currently reside within an acceptable planting site as Village finances allow. With the rapid on-set of EAB, the subsequent substantial loss of trees, and the current economy, it is difficult to predict whether the planting program will be able to be funded to the level necessary to off-set these large losses within an acceptable time frame. As losses increase, there is potential that this time frame may lengthen. Ultimately, the Forester plans to replace parkway trees and review park areas for potential replacement. Public safety is the first priority, but the Forester realizes that the greatest measure of success by Riverside residents, pertaining to EAB management, will be the reforestation effort that follows tree
removals. To ensure replacement of a removed parkway tree, residents are encouraged to participate in the Tree Cooperative planting program, which is a 50 / 50 cost share between the resident and the Village for planting and installation. Prices can range from $120 to $200 depending on tree species and size.

19. What will be the size of the replacement tree?

Plants can range anywhere from one and a half (1 ½) inches in diameter, to two (2) inches in diameter. Tree height is dependent upon species characteristics and can vary dramatically. The Forester purposefully chooses to plant specimens on the smaller side because smaller trees establish quicker, and admittedly are more affordable. When a tree is dug from the nursery, a substantial portion of its
root system (feeding system) is removed (as much as ninety (90) percent). This makes new trees very difficult to transplant and establish. The larger the new tree, the more difficult it is to transplant and establish, which causes the rate of failure of newly installed trees to dramatically increase. The increased purchase price, and increased failure rate (which results in added cost of subsequent replacement,
equipment, and labor) of larger trees has proven to be a challenge to effective use of transplanting dollars. Therefore, the size of tree installed is that which the Forester feels best suits it ability to rapidly establish, quickly put forth new growth, and provide the best, long-term, quality and quantity of trees which benefits our community.

20. Can I plant my own tree?

Yes, but since the planting will take place on Village-owned property, the installation must be reviewed and permitted by the Department of Public Works. The permit must meet certain requirements (including planting location and species selection) to be approved by the Village. Once the installation takes place the tree becomes the property of the Village, the Village then assumes ownership rights and responsibilities. Permits can be obtained from the Village offices at the Riverside Township Hall. Return the completed permit to the Village offices for consideration of your request.

21. Will the Village reimburse me if I plant my own tree?

No. Once the decision is made to plant your own parkway tree you have stepped outside of the Village program and processes which are designed for best use of tree program funding.

22. Can I choose what type of tree will be installed?

The Village typically provides homeowners with several choices of species for installation in the Village-owned parcel adjacent to their property. These species are chosen based upon appropriateness for parkway installation, viability of the species, availability, proven success, and diversity for the entire area. While you may not be given the ability to choose a specific species, you are typically given a choice
from among several quality species.

23. Why can’t I choose the same tree as all of my neighbors?

Diversity in the urban forest is important in providing for its future success. As the Village learned with Dutch elm disease and is now learning with EAB, the planting of a single species in mass quantities is a poor urban forestry practice. Once a species becomes susceptible to a new insect or disease, the community suffers unnecessary and substantial losses of the environmental, monetary, and aesthetic benefits these trees provide. The Village therefore strives to provide adequate diversity when choosing the plants to offer for replanting. These trees are typically not the standard trees you may see on the street or at your neighbor’s home. This is a purposeful decision. Usually the trees you are most familiar with are the ones that are over-planted community wide. Adding more trees to their numbers will only cause the Village to be more vulnerable to the same issues the Village is currently facing. Trees offered in the program have fewer total numbers throughout the community, and only a certain number of each tree species are available for planting each season, which provides for greater community species diversity and promotes forest durability.

24. This is the first I am hearing of EAB; why am I so far down on the replacement list?

While this may be the first you are hearing of this pest, it has been in Riverside since 2010. With standard tree losses, coupled with the substantial losses due to EAB, the number of failed trees has and will continue to increase dramatically. Trees are added to the list in the order they fail. Your place on the list is a testament to the devastation caused by invasive species and the environmental disaster we are currently experiencing. We continue to do the best we can to manage this challenging situation. Your patience is appreciated.

25. Is this going to cost me anything?

If you follow the Village process that is currently in place, failed Village-owned parkway trees are removed, the stumps are ground out, the site is restored (with topsoil and seed), and the tree is replaced (if the site meets current standards) at no cost to you. Regarding private property removals, EAB infested ash trees must be removed as requested by the Village. Per Village code 8-5-6, an infested ash tree must be removed within 30 days of notification from the Village. This is a state mandate that requires the municipality to enforce the removal of a declared pest deemed a nuisance by the state of Illinois.