Chicago Quarantine Zone Expands For Asian Long-horned Beetles

Residents in the newly designated area, covering roughly 4.5 square miles and including the Rogers Park neighborhood, will be required to take special precautions when disposing of branches and tree trimmings that could harbor the destructive insects or their larvae. Violators will face fines.

A spokesman for the Illinois Department of Agriculture did not confirm the change in the quarantine boundaries, saying that there will be a determination soon whether changes need to be made.

Spokesman John Herath said Friday that an infested tree was discovered recently in Rogers Park, and officials "are in the process of evaluating all the regulated areas in and around Chicago."

But other sources said that a decision already has been made to expand the city's quarantine area. An official announcement was expected this week.

Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th) said that a possible expansion was discussed by state and federal officials at a meeting earlier this month that was held to discuss beetle eradication efforts in the Ravenswood neighborhood in his ward.

Ravenswood, which lies within the current quarantine zone, is where the beetle first was discovered in Chicago in 1998. The neighborhood has lost about 900 trees.

Designation of the expanded quarantine area does signal the start of a new wave of tree cutting, but it is seen as a precautionary effort designed to stop the spread of the insect.

Chicago lost 1,400 trees in the first two years after the beetle infestation was discovered, but only 200 in 2000, a decline that has given officials hope that progress has been made in controlling the spread of the insect.

Schulter said that a new anti-beetle treatment program, begun in his ward last year on an experimental basis, has shown so much promise that it is being expanded.

Beginning next month, several thousand trees will be injected with a chemical that appears to stymie insect growth, he said.

"We are very, very optimistic about the treatment," Schulter said. "The nice thing about it is that the scientific community feels there is nothing that can harm people or animals."

A community meeting is scheduled for March 29 when local, state and federal officials will inform Ravenswood residents of the status of the beetle fight and answer questions about the new program.