European tree pest claims more Saskatoon casualties

Although the battle against a tree pest that has found its way to Saskatoon from Europe has been going on for some time, many people in the city are just starting to notice the casualties as they slowly fall.

Thirty-nine trees infected with the cottony ash psyllid are being removed this week on the busy shopping corridor on 1st Avenue South.   

Originally, about 100 trees downtown, in Broadway, Riversdale and along 22nd Street were hit by the yellowish green pest.

"Large numbers of psyllids were detected in trees planted within concrete cut-outs in our central business areas, which have been particularly susceptible," said Michelle Chartier, superintendent of urban forestry and pest management, in a news release in April.

As crews moved through the original areas, they found more affected trees, said an official at city hall.

"Heavily infested trees will often lose leaves, with the remaining leaves twisted into a corkscrew shape," said Chartier.

So far, city hall does not have a new total for the number of trees affected by the cottony ash psyllid.