Ash trees chopped down in Courtice due to emerald ash borer damage
Tiny, green insect is killing trees throughout Clarington

DurhamRegion.com
July 20, 2016
Stefanie Swinson  

A small bug is causing big problems for ash trees throughout Clarington.    

The worst area for emerald ash borer damage right now is in Courtice, with dead trees easy to spot along boulevards in many subdivisions.     

The emerald ash borer is a green beetle native to Asia that’s invaded Ontario. The first sighting in the province was in Windsor back in 2002 and as years passed, the invasive insect migrated east, wreaking havoc on ash trees.    

Bob Genosko, Clarington’s operations supervisor, said the bug began damaging trees in the town in 2013.    

“The bugs work at quite a quick rate. They’re tiny but powerful,” explained Mr. Genosko. “The adults are going around right now producing eggs which would be deposited in the cracks and then later on this year the eggs will hatch and then burrow in and do this damage. It’s the larva that does the damage. They basically strangle the tree so no nutrients can’t get in.”   There are about 2,400 ash trees in the municipality.    

“There’s not a healthy one in Courtice,” he said.    

Sagewood Avenue has 17 ash trees which will be chopped down, all either dead or showing some effect of the green bug.    

Ward 1 Councillor Steven Cooke said the problem with ash trees is the biggest complaint he gets from his constituents. 
   
“Residents are concerned about their trees. They’re concerned that their tree may fall over. In the winter time it really starts to escalate because they worry their tree will fall down and if we get a bad storm now in the summer, it could be dangerous. The branches become very sharp because there are no leaves left,” said Coun. Cooke.    

He said he passes each complaint on to staff and makes sure each case is looked into.    

Coun. Cooke explained the cost of all 17 trees to take down is $10,000. The price per tree is upwards of $900.

“It’s an expensive problem... from the manpower to take it down and just the cost to replace it and buy a new tree and plant it. It adds up,” he said.    

The cost of tree removal and replacement because of the borer in Clarington this year has yet to be determined, Mr. Genosko said.

Sagewood Avenue resident Mike Millar tweeted that he first realized there was a problem while walking his dog recently. He said he noticed the bark had fallen off the ash trees on his street.    

“I‘ll be sad to see the trees cut down, but understand that it’s a necessary precaution to prevent the spread of emerald ash borers to other trees,” said Mr. Millar. “I hope that Clarington will replant new trees in their place.”    

Mr. Genosko said depending on when a resident’s ash tree is cut down, a new tree will be planted in its place this fall or the following year.    

“We will give residents the choice of which tree they’d like. We think it’s fair that they get to pick,” he said.     

The average age of the trees affected is 30-35 years.    

Rob Brodofske of Pidduck Street said it was only in the last year or two that the ash tree on his front yard started showing signs of the bug and now it’s quite noticeable. Ash trees at the next two houses south of his have also suffered the same decline.    

“They’re dead, no leaves. It looks like the bark is falling off and you can see the beetle paths in the wood.” He said a Google streetview shows the trees in his neighbourhood at a much healthier time.