Emerald Ash Borer

On July 5, 2011, the Village of Carpentersville (Village) received notice from the Illinois Department of Agriculture confirming the presence of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) within our community. The EAB was verified in our community through outreach activities performed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture's EAB staff. A copy of the Memo from the Illinois Department of Agriculture (PDF) confirming the Village's EAB infestation is available for review and download. Unfortunately, the arrival of EAB will have a serious impact to the Village's tree canopy, aesthetic environment, and budget for numerous years to come.

The Village's EAB Policy (PDF) is available for review and download.

Information on the control of the EAB can be found online at the Illinois EAB website, a website maintained by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as well as the Emerald Ash Borer website.

About the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)

EAB is a non-native species to North America. It was discovered in southeastern Michigan in the summer of 2002. EAB probably arrived in the United States on solid wood packing material conveyed in cargo ships or airplanes originating from its native land, Asia. According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Emerald Ash Borer typically moves only short distances by flying, but can survive long distances in transit on ash nursery stock, ash logs, branches and firewood. 

The beetle killed tens of millions of ash trees in southeastern Michigan alone, with tens of millions more lost in:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Missouri
• Ohio
• Ontario
• Pennsylvania
• Quebec
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin

Adult Beetles

Adult beetles are bright, metallic-green in color. Adults are typically one-third of an inch long and one-sixteenth of an inch wide. They have rounded abdomens and flat backs. Larvae are creamy white and have flattened, segmented bodies. Older larvae grow up to an inch long. 

They feed under ash tree bark from mid-summer through spring, damaging the ash tree's vascular tissue. These beetles only infest ash trees. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage.

Larvae

The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark or cambium layer which is the crucial layer between the bark and wood of ash trees, thus, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients.