[getsmart-l] Emerald ash borer in dozens of Toronto trees

[John O'Gorman]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071205.washborer1205/BNStory/National/
Emerald ash borer in dozens of Toronto trees
The Associated Press/Globe and Mail 

December 5, 2007 at 9:21 AM EST

TORONTO — The invasive emerald ash borer beetle, which has already destroyed ash trees in southwestern Ontario, has now been found in Toronto.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the beetle was detected in the city's northeast end and appears contained to about 100 trees. The agency will impose a quarantine in the area.

Richard Ubbens, the city's director of urban forestry, said there is no way of knowing how many trees are infected because it is hard to detect.

He said that the city has about 30,000 ash trees on its streets but that there are hundreds of thousands of ash trees elsewhere – in parks, ravines and private property.

Little can be done to prevent the spread of the beetle, which no known pesticide can kill. All officials can do is try to slow the spread of the infestation by restricting movement of ash trees and firewood.

The beetle arrived in North America from Eastern Asia in the 1990s in wooden packing materials. Its spread from Michigan into southwestern Ontario has left an estimated 20 million ash trees dead.
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