CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago is beginning the second year of its battle against the tree-killing emerald ash borer.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office says the fight includes inoculating 35,000 viable ash trees on parkways by the end of the summer. Crews inoculated 37,000 ash trees last year.
The ash borer is native to Asia and was first discovered in southeastern Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has killed millions of trees.
Chicago’s trees will be inoculated with a substance called TREE-age. The mayor’s office says it’s effective killing the insects and in protecting trees for up to three years.
The average cost of inoculating a single tree is around $45. The mayor’s office says that compares with the $1,000 it costs to remove an infested tree and replace it with a new tree.
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