Bloomington to survey 700 city ash trees for signs of beetle

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Bloomington officials are surveying the city's ash trees to determine how many will need to be removed because of an infestation by the emerald ash borer.

The city has already lost about 200 trees to the invasive Asian beetle, which burrows into ash trees and destroys their vascular systems, usually killing them within two years.

Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department Director Mick Renneisen tells The Herald-Times (http://bit.ly/1LI5LKq ) the department is trying to determine how to proceed with the remaining 700 trees.

Urban forester Lee Huss is surveying all of the city's ash trees this month to check for signs of infestation. He'll also look for trees that might need to be cut down for other reasons, such as growing into power lines or being in poor health.

The city has three options: treat the tree with insecticide, leave the tree untreated or remove the tree.

"We've already treated and removed some that were just in really poor health," Renneisen said.

Renneisen said more than half of the ash trees could be removed, but city officials hope to reduce that total. Trees that are removed will be replaced with another type of tree.

The city targeted 53 trees to save last year by injecting them with insecticide. Nearly half were in city parks.

"It can be expensive, but you have to think of the alternative of removal," Renneisen said. "We'll keep our eyes and ears open on ways to minimize the cost."

Trees targeted for saving need to be injected between April and May, when emerald ash borer larvae hatch and begin to feed.

"If you miss that window, then you're into the prime season when the bug is out," Renneisen said.

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Information from: The Herald Times, http://www.heraldtimesonline.com