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Emerald ash borer found in Kenosha County

MADISON – A scientist in Michigan has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer in a newly planted ash tree in rural Kenosha County, several miles north of Silver Lake, the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced today.

The discovery marks the third confirmed detection of the ash-tree killers in Wisconsin but is not initially considered as serious as earlier finds in Ozaukee and Washington counties.

The new discovery appears isolated, the statement said. The earlier infestations appeared to be older and affected numerous trees.

“Based on the initial review, this appears to be an instance where a regulated article – a nursery tree in this case – was moved from Illinois to Wisconsin,” according to the announcement. “It doesn’t appear that there is an active infestation of EAB in the area. Nevertheless, DATCP staff will take a closer look at the area in an effort to determine if there is some additional response necessary.”

A federal quarantine prohibits the movement of nursery stock from Illinois to Wisconsin without a compliance order. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating, according to the statement. The infested tree is believed to have come from Lake County.

Emerald ash borers have been confirmed in seven Illinois counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, LaSalle, Will, McHenry and McLean, according to a University of Illinois Extension Web site. A DATCP spokesman said Lake County, just south of Kenosha County, was recently added to that list.

"All or parts of the 18 northeastern-most Illinois counties currently are under quarantine to prevent the accidental spread of the beetle," the Web site states. "The quarantine prohibits the intrastate movement of potentially-contaminated wood products, including ash trees, limbs and branches and all types of firewood. In addition, the entire states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan have been placed under a federal quarantine. It prohibits the interstate movement of these same products."