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Monday, 07 April 2008 |
Tree commission, foresters to review emerald ash borer situation in Wapak
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
With seven counties added to an emerald ash borer quarantine list this past week, a Wapakoneta administrator says he is sure city leaders will re-examine its situation in connection with the ash tree killing insect.
“I am sure Wapakoneta City Tree Commission members are aware of the list being expanded, and we do have Tree City USA on April 15 here in Wapakoneta — so I am sure everything will be reviewed and we will have urban foresters to help with that review,” Wapakoneta Mayor Rodney Metz said, noting Auglaize County was one of the first counties to be named to the list.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) expanded the list Wednesday to include several nearby counties, including Darke, Putnam, Shelby and Van Wert, as well as other counties in the state including Champaign, Crawford and Preble.
ODA officials issue a quarantine in an effort to slow the spread of the emerald ash borer by prohibiting the movement of ash trees, parts of an ash tree and all hardwood firewood out of the infested areas. Violators face maximum fines of $4,000.
It is also illegal to take these items out of the state of Ohio, according to the terms of a federal quarantine.
Urban foresters first identified emerald ash borer near Wapakoneta at the northbound and southbound rest areas at mile marker 113 on Interstate 75 in August 2005. Ash trees within a one-half mile radius were culled and ash trees were examined within a two-mile radius for a possible infestation of the insect.
The cutting down of trees was paid for by the ODA.
The confirmation of emerald ash borer last week in Putnam County by urban foresters should spark renewed concern in Wapakoneta, Metz said.
“City leaders have been very concerned because of the number of ash trees we have and the cost associated with taking them down,” Metz said. “There also is no monetary assistance in taking them down at this point from the state. They have already spent their allotted money.”
The mayor said Tree Commission members have implemented a plan to cull 25 percent of the ash trees on city property each of the next four years, but they are still looking at other means to battle the insect and to protect the trees.
“There are some new treatment methods available and we will see some demonstrations because two companies plan to attend the Tree City USA program in Wapakoneta,” Metz said of the event hosted by cities and villages in Auglaize County. “We will see some new products, new treatments and new techniques as well as demonstrations of those programs.”
Ash trees infested with the emerald ash borer typically die within five years.
Emerald ash borer, which belongs to a group of metallic wood-boring beetles, appears dark green and is one-half inch in length.
They fly from early May until September.
Emerald ash borer larvae spend the year beneath the bark of ash trees, and when they emerge as adults, leave D-shaped holes in the bark.
Since the emerald ash borer was first identified in Ohio in 2003, the insect has been identified in 35 counties including Allen, Auglaize, Defiance and Logan. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 April 2008 )
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