The Asian Longhorned Beetle threatens the trees in our neighborhood.

New York and Chicago have been dealing with this problem since the mid 1990's.

In our area, an infected tree was found at the corner of Barker Ave. and Riverdale Drive. These trees have been
cut down and replaced with new trees.

All of the remaining trees in the area have been inventoried and marked using a strip of silver metal with an
identification number. Inspections have occured to search for more signs of the beetles. So far, none have been
found. Additional inspections will continue to occur.

To prevent further spread of the Beetle, the normal plan in Toronto is to cut down all of the broadleaf trees within a
raduis of the infected tree. In areas, such as Vaughan, where more infected trees were found, the tree cutting has
already happened or scheduled.

If the beetle is found in our area again, the current plan is to clear-cut all broadleaf trees within a 400 metre radius
of Barker Ave. and Riverdale Drive. The planned cutting area could also be expanded to 800 metres or more.

We can expect, once again, that tree inspectors will be coming around to each home in our neighborhood to
inspect the trees and to plan the cutting of each tree and to determine the corresponding costs. Some of the cost
will be covered by the Federal Government; additional costs will be left to the city and the homeowner to pay.

Currently in the US, only infected trees are cut down. In Toronto, the plan is that all trees, whether infected or not,
will be cut down. In the US, healthy trees are protected from the Beetle by using an insecticide called
imidacloprid (sold by Bayer in Canada). The Canadian Federal Government is currently deciding whether this
insecticide can be used here or not If the insecticide called imidacloprid could be used here, then our healthy
trees would be saved.