Asian Beetle Spotted In Wrigleyville
First Longhorned Beetle Seen This Year
POSTED: 5:34 p.m. CDT July 29, 2002
UPDATED: 6:49 p.m. CDT July 29, 2002
CHICAGO -- 
The city of Chicago reported its first sighting this year of an Asian longhorned beetle a few blocks from Wrigley Field on Monday.
A woman walking her dog spotted the beetle at 3510 N. Lakewood Ave., Streets and Sanitation Department spokesman Matt Smith said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was contacted, confirmed it was an Asian longhorned beetle, captured it and notified the city about the sighting, he said.
The 2-inch-long insect, with black and white antennae, was found within the existing quarantine zone and the tree that housed the beetle was identified and removed, he said.
The emergence period for the adult beetle is in the spring, summer and fall.
"Since the start of the emergence period for this beetle is mid-June, the fact that we've only seen one beetle to this point continues to be very encouraging," Streets and Sanitation Bureau of Forestry Deputy Commissioner Steve Bylina said in a news release.
There was only one beetle sighting in 2001. That beetle was spotted in early October at 1726 W. Berteau Ave., Smith said.
More than 1,350 trees have been removed since 1998, when the first beetle was found in the Ravenswood neighborhood, according to Smith.
Experts have said the beetles, which eventually kill infested trees, were believed to have traveled to various locations in the United States in wood used for packaging material by Chinese companies.
The city asked the public to continue to watch for the beetles and report any additional sightings by calling 311.
The city of Chicago reported its first sighting this year of an Asian longhorned beetle a few blocks from Wrigley Field on Monday.
A woman walking her dog spotted the beetle at 3510 N. Lakewood Ave., Streets and Sanitation Department spokesman Matt Smith said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture was contacted, confirmed it was an Asian longhorned beetle, captured it and notified the city about the sighting, he said.
The 2-inch-long insect, with black and white antennae, was found within the existing quarantine zone and the tree that housed the beetle was identified and removed, he said.
The emergence period for the adult beetle is in the spring, summer and fall.
"Since the start of the emergence period for this beetle is mid-June, the fact that we've only seen one beetle to this point continues to be very encouraging," Streets and Sanitation Bureau of Forestry Deputy Commissioner Steve Bylina said in a news release.
There was only one beetle sighting in 2001. That beetle was spotted in early October at 1726 W. Berteau Ave., Smith said.
More than 1,350 trees have been removed since 1998, when the first beetle was found in the Ravenswood neighborhood, according to Smith.
Experts have said the beetles, which eventually kill infested trees, were believed to have traveled to various locations in the United States in wood used for packaging material by Chinese companies.
The city asked the public to continue to watch for the beetles and report any additional sightings by calling 311.Copyright 2002 by NBC5.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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