"With spring having sprung, it will only be a matter of time before many area residents who have ash trees will find out if their trees will be added to the rapidly growing list of victims of the notorious emerald ash borer."

"Scientists believe the insects first appeared in North America through wooden packing material shipped from China into the Detroit-Windsor area in 2002. Most likely carried in by people bringing firewood from Michigan, the insects were first noticed in Illinois four years later.

According to the Illinois Department Agriculture EAB website, "On June 9, 2006, two ash trees in 'The Windings' subdivision, near Lily Lake in Kane County, were positively identified as being infested with the Emerald Ash Borer."

Experts estimate about 18 percent of all trees in the Chicago metro area are ash, and the borers could eventually destroy a vast majority of them. Professional arborists recommend that only 5 percent of all trees planted in any one place be of the same type."

Mike Danahey reports for the Elgin Courier News April 14, 2012. [2]