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Following is useful information on common insects and diseases which can be found in Lake Forest, as well as a description of tree care programs undertaken by the Forestry Section as it cares for over 45,000 trees. Emerald Ash Borer The adult beetle is slender and usually 7.5 to 13.5 mm long. Its body is brassy or golden green with darker metallic emerald green wing covers. The top of the abdomen under the wing covers is metallic coppery red. Pupation begins in late April or May. Larvae feed in the soft wood, producing galleries that eventually girdle and kill branches and entire trees. The insect emerges from D-shaped exit holes that are 3-4 mm in diameter.
If you have traveled to Ohio, Michigan, or Indiana in the
last 10 years and have brought back firewood to Illinois,
there is a higher risk that trees on your property may be
infested. These insects can "jump" to other trees if they
are transported. It is also important that ash tree firewood
not be transported. Asian Long-Horned Beetle Dutch Elm Disease Fall Webworm Gypsy Moth Visit the USDA Forest Service web site to learn more about the Gypsy Moth. Ladybugs/Lady Beetles Lady Beetles are a very beneficial group of insects. A single Lady Beetle may consume as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime. Depending on the species, lady beetles go through at least one generation a year, with adults hibernating under leaf litter, other debris or they may even find their way into homes before winter. They appear to prefer light, colored or sunny sides of buildings, windows and fixtures during this time of year. Lady Beetles can be aggressive and occasionally pinch your skin with their mandibles (jaw-like part of an insect), leaving a small mark. However annoying they may become, they are still one of the most beneficial insects in our landscapes. Some things you can do to cope with Ladybugs/Lady Beetles include:
You should also be aware that there are no registered pesticides currently available for the use against Lady Beetles. Mosquito Control West Nile Virus What can you do? If you should find a dead crow, blue jay or hawk, report this sighting to the City (847-604-5891) or the Lake County Health Department (847-360-6700). The City's Forestry Section monitors and treats areas where mosquitoes breed. Residents can assist by emptying vessels where water remains stagnant -- gutters, birdbaths, tires, etc. Visit the Illinois Department of Public Health web site to learn more about West Nile Virus and how you can help control mosquitoes in your area and avoid contracting West Nile Virus. Sidewalk Clearing Spring and Fall Tree Planting The Forestry section offers a share cost program to residents, which allows those residents that do not already have a parkway tree to split the cost 50/50 with the City. If you are interested in participating in the share cost tree program, please call 847-615-4232. Tree Inventory Tree Preservation ·
minimize erosion and storm water runoff
Prescribed Burns
Tree Trimming & Removal
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As
has been reported in the news, the Emerald Ash Borer has
made an appearance in Wilmette, Evanston and Lily Lake,
Illinois. With an Ash tree population of nearly 25%, the
City is greatly concerned. It is important that residents be
aware of the following in order to avoid infestation in the
Lake Forest area.
If
you have ash trees on your property, it is important that
you inspect these trees
for signs of infestation. The easiest way to do this is to
look for "D" shaped exit holes on the tree. You may also
contact the City Forester Peter Gordon at 847-604-5891 or
The Asian Long-Horned Beetle
bores 3/4 inch circular holes into healthy hardwood trees and eventually
kills them from the interior damage created. Nursery stock, logs,
green lumber, firewood, stumps, roots, branches, and debris of 1/2 inch
in diameter or more is subject to beetle infestation. Maples,
horse chestnuts, apples, poplars, cherries, willows and elms are the
beetle's favorite trees. 
Don’t
panic. That web you have been seeing on your trees is not
Gypsy Moth but Fall Webworm, which feeds on more than 100
species of fruit, shade, and ornamental trees and is
especially noticeable during late summer and fall. Larvae
feed inside the web stripping the leaves to the mid vein of
the leaf. Damage is usually not severe and seldom causes
total defoliation. Destroying the nests by pruning them out
or removing them by hand can be done to a limited extent.
There are pesticides that will control the caterpillars, but
they should only be used as a last resort.
Since 1981, the City has been
working to identify and control this insect. Gypsy moth egg masses
(present from July to May) are the life stage most often observed.
Homeowners can assist in controlling these insects by inspecting their
property for egg masses or caterpillars. The egg masses are about 1.5
inches long and covered with velvety, buff or yellow covered hairs from
the female moth. These masses contain 100 to 1,000 eggs. Egg masses are
generally found on tress, w
ood piles, rock walls, and lawn furniture or in other
protected locations. The mature caterpillars are approximately 2.5
inches long, brown, and hairy with five pairs of blue spots and six
pairs of red spots along their backs. An area will undergo a gradual
population build up for a time before the population goes through a
phase of rapid release. This gives vigilant communities time to assess
local conditions and take appropriate action. Identification and
spraying will continue this spring. Residents living in infected areas
will be notified, and public hearings will be held prior to spraying.
