GOV. BLAGOJEVICH PROCLAIMS JULY 12 ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE…

 GOV. BLAGOJEVICH PROCLAIMS JULY 12 ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE DEREGULATION DAY




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2006

       GOV. BLAGOJEVICH PROCLAIMS JULY 12 ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
                                     DEREGULATION DAY
 Agriculture Department Lifts Final Asian Longhorned Beetle Quarantine Zone In Chicago; Federal
  and local government agencies recognized for their efforts toward eradicating the destructive pest

CHICAGO ­ Illinois Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke today presented a proclamation issued by
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich to Chicago Streets and Sanitation Deputy Commissioner, Malcolm
Whiteside, recognizing July 12, 2006 as Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Deregulation Day. The
proclamation was given as part of a signing ceremony to deregulate the final ALB quarantine zone
established in Illinois around Oz Park in Chicago. The ceremony was held in Oz Park at the corner of
Webster, Larrabee and Lincoln, the area where the ALB was detected in 2003.

"It's been eight years since the first Asian Longhorned beetle was detected in Illinois. Today, thanks to
the help of our federal and local partners, we are able to take down the last quarantine area set up to
prevent the movement of the beetle and rid Illinois of the invasive pest," Agriculture Director Chuck
Hartke said.

The interior state quarantine currently in effect is an area in the City of Chicago bounded on the west by
N. Damen Avenue from W. Chicago Avenue north to W. Addison Street; bounded on the north by W.
Addison Street from N. Damen Avenue east to N. Broadway, continuing east-northeast on W. Addison
Street from N. Broadway to N. Lake Shore Drive, continuing on a line east-northeast to Belmont Harbor
Drive, continuing north along Belmont Harbor Drive to W. Addison Drive, continuing east on W.
Addison Drive to its end, and continuing on a line east to Lake Michigan; bounded on the west by Lake
Michigan; and bounded on the south by Chicago Avenue from N. Damen Avenue west to N. Lake Shore
Drive, and continuing on a line west to Lake Michigan.

The lifting of this quarantine permits the free movement of potential beetle host materials, including
firewood, lumber, woody debris and nursery stock. The work of the Asian Longhorned Beetle
Cooperative Eradication Program is not over yet. In order to confirm the eradication of the ALB from


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Illinois, trees in the former quarantine areas will continue to be inspected the remainder of this year and
through 2007. Four years of negative surveys are necessary for confirmation of ALB eradication.

"Our success against the ALB infestation in Chicago can be attributed to the science-based strategies the
ALB Cooperative Eradication Program researched and employed to identify, contain, and systematically
eliminate what was, in the late 1990's, a new invasive species," said Paul Eggert, Associate Deputy
Administrator, Plant Protection and Quarantine, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Services. "Throughout the eradication effort all levels of government here shared
an excellent working relationship and were supported by engaged residents vigilant about looking for and
reporting signs of ALB infestation."

Since initial detection of the ALB on July 9 of 1998, 1,551 infested trees have been detected and removed
from northeastern Illinois and over 2,682 non-host trees have been replanted. More than 290,000 ALB
host trees have been treated with insecticide between 2000 and 2006 as a protective measure to reduce
beetle populations.

"Thanks to the aggressive coordinated response by our crews and our state and federal partners, we have
not found an infested tree since 2003," said Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael J.
Picardi. "While we are pleased at the progress we've made against ALB and we are keeping a watchful
eye on the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer, we cannot forget about ALB. Therefore, we are asking the
public to stay educated on both of these exotic beetles and to keep their eyes open and let us know
immediately should they see any signs of these invasive pests in the future."

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is shiny black and has distinctive white spots on its back with long
antennae that are banded in black and white. It typically grows about 1 to 1.5 inches long and prefers to
dine on hardwood trees such as maples birch, horsechestnut, sycamore and elms. Telltale signs of possible
beetle activity include three-eighths if an inch in diameter perfectly round exit holes in a tree's trunk or
branches or piles of sawdust-like wood shavings at its base or on its branches.

Public support in the effort to declare eradication of ALB from Illinois is still needed. Beetle sightings
should be reported to the toll-free beetle hotline at   1-800-641-3934        . Concerned residents may also
call the ALB Cooperative Eradication Program at         312-742-3385      .

                                                                      ###



 Dept. of Agriculture
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                                                                   Copyright © 2001
                                                     State of Illinois Department of Agriculture
                                                        P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
                                                            Springfield, IL 62794-9281
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GOV. BLAGOJEVICH PROCLAIMS JULY 12 ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE DEREGULATION DAY




                                                                                                  Questions or comments.

                                                                  Copyright © 2001
                                                    State of Illinois Department of Agriculture
                                                       P.O. Box 19281, State Fairgrounds
                                                           Springfield, IL 62794-9281
                                                                 (217) 782-2172
                                                        Last updated: 08/04/2006 09:17:09




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