2008 Woodie Awards
Asian beetles may threaten Oxford ash trees
Kathryn Comella
Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: Community
With the destruction of trees left behind by the emerald ash borer throughout the Midwest, Oxford is preparing for the believed imminent arrival of the exotic beetle species.
According to city of Oxford Environmental Specialist Dave Treleaven, the tiny green beetle, introduced to North America in the early 1990s, has caused millions of dollars in damages for municipalities and property owners, in addition to killing thousands of ash trees in Michigan and Ohio.
Treleaven believes the exotic beetle is a serious threat to the ash tree population.
"The beetle is a death sentence to a tree and has the potential to wipe out the ash tree species," Treleaven said.
Casey Munchel, service forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), said the relatively new species ravaged trees in Michigan in 2002. By 2006, the invasion spread to northern Ohio.
According to Munchel, researchers think the emerald ash borer came to America on shipments from Asia.
Treleaven echoed Munchel's statements regarding the origin and migration of the beetles, and said the bug may soon appear in the Oxford area.
"It's expected that human transports have caused the insect to spread as of now and my feeling is that it will hit the Houston Woods area before the city of Oxford," Treleaven said.
Since the beetles' entrance into the United States, Munchel said there has been an unexpected cost of tree removal and a change in heating and cooling costs caused by tree removal. Munchel said because trees offer shade for houses, when the trees are removed due to beetle infestation, the houses uses more energy to keep the house cool. It's a challenge to maintain trees in the front yard because of the effect the beetle has on the ash trees.
Munchel said Ohio has 3.8 billion ash trees, primarily valued for hard wood products such as baseball bats, hardwood floors and cabinets.
To protect the approximately 450 ash trees in Oxford, the city will be taking tree inventory, removing the old, damaged ash trees and leaving the healthy viable trees, according to Treleaven. Treleaven also said the city would continue the testing process.
According to city of Oxford Environmental Specialist Dave Treleaven, the tiny green beetle, introduced to North America in the early 1990s, has caused millions of dollars in damages for municipalities and property owners, in addition to killing thousands of ash trees in Michigan and Ohio.
Treleaven believes the exotic beetle is a serious threat to the ash tree population.
"The beetle is a death sentence to a tree and has the potential to wipe out the ash tree species," Treleaven said.
Casey Munchel, service forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), said the relatively new species ravaged trees in Michigan in 2002. By 2006, the invasion spread to northern Ohio.
According to Munchel, researchers think the emerald ash borer came to America on shipments from Asia.
Treleaven echoed Munchel's statements regarding the origin and migration of the beetles, and said the bug may soon appear in the Oxford area.
"It's expected that human transports have caused the insect to spread as of now and my feeling is that it will hit the Houston Woods area before the city of Oxford," Treleaven said.
Since the beetles' entrance into the United States, Munchel said there has been an unexpected cost of tree removal and a change in heating and cooling costs caused by tree removal. Munchel said because trees offer shade for houses, when the trees are removed due to beetle infestation, the houses uses more energy to keep the house cool. It's a challenge to maintain trees in the front yard because of the effect the beetle has on the ash trees.
Munchel said Ohio has 3.8 billion ash trees, primarily valued for hard wood products such as baseball bats, hardwood floors and cabinets.
To protect the approximately 450 ash trees in Oxford, the city will be taking tree inventory, removing the old, damaged ash trees and leaving the healthy viable trees, according to Treleaven. Treleaven also said the city would continue the testing process.
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