Emerald ash borer beetle found in Algonquin

An invasive beetle that destroys ash trees has been found in Algonquin for the first time.

The emerald ash borer, a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia, was found east of the Fox River, near Souwanas Trail and Oceola Drive.

The village said it would remove ash trees on public property only by special request or as they die, then replace them with alternate tree species.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture previously has enacted quarantines on the movement of ash tree debris within Kane and McHenry counties. The larvae feed on the vascular system of a tree, causing it to starve to death.

The beetle does not pose any threat to public health, but it does threaten the tree population. Since its appearance in the Midwest in 2002, more than 20 million ash trees are dead or dying.