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APPLICATION ITEMS: Removal of two box elder trees near 902 Riverside Drive Replacement of the two trees in the fall REPORT & RECOMMENDATION On March 4, 2004, the owner of 902 Riverside Drive (Riverside Drive Historic District), Donald Sappington, called the office with a complaint. Box elder bugs had entered his house during the fall and winter and were now disturbing the household. He requested that the Parks Department cut down two box elder trees, Ager negundo, (a species of maple) located in Leeper Park West, as box elder bugs inhabit and lay eggs in these trees during the spring. (See map. The tree is marked with an "X.") Staff also spoke to Brent Thompson, the City Forester, who is concerned that other trees in the area support the bug population. Box elder bugs inhabit and lay eggs in other maple trees and several other tree species, including wild grape. The box elders in question may be the current source of the problem, but not the only one. Luckily, elder bugs do not structurally damage homes and trees, like termites and carpenter ants. They do not lay eggs in the house; they do not bite and do not carry disease. The bugs become bothersome when they enter homes in greater numbers after mild winters, as in the Sappington's current situation. Box elder bugs are attracted to tall houses with textured and exposed sides. The elder bugs heat themselves with the sun during the cold winter months. 902 Riverside Drive is a perfect sun perch for the bugs. It sits atop a bluff, is sided with shingles, and the southern facade of the house is exposed to the winter sun. As elder bugs are inherently attracted to houses built like 902 Riverside Drive, tree removal will most likely NOT solve the problem. The bugs can live in other trees and there are quite a few near the home. The removal of the box elder trees would not seem to be a responsible use of the taxpayers' money and of the Parks Department's resources and time. The removal would further break a linear planting of trees that denotes the boundary between the park and the neighborhood. Other solutions that would have a far softer impact upon the landscape and Leener Park are available. Only vacuuming will remove the bugs from the house right now. Weather stripping windows and doors, especially basement windows, keeping the foundation cleared of leaves and debris, and applying certain detergents or chemicals around the foundation of the home in late summer and early fall would help keep the bugs from entering. The trees could be treated with insecticides by a certified exterminator, if the Parks Department and HPC members are agreeable to this. Staff has sent a letter to the Sappington's outlining these methods. Staff recommends denial of application 2004-0304 as stated, but would suggest amending it to include any tree pruning and maintenance projects the City Forester foresees for Leeper Park West and Central. INFORINIATION SOURCES "Acer negundo: Box Elder, Ash -leaved Elder." www.il-st-acad-sci.org/trees/boxelder. Bugaboo Pest Control, LCC. "Box Elder Bugs." www.bug-guy.com. DeAngelis, Jack. "Box Elder Bugs." Oregon State Universitv Extension. Urban Entomoloev Notes., August 1998. Gibb, Timothy J. "Box Elder Bugs." Ornamental Insects. (Department of Entomology, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service: West Lafayette, 1995). , Leeper Park: South Bend's First Historic Designed Landscape Landmark. (HPC: South Bend, 1996). United Exterminating Company. "The Box Elder Bug Page." www.unexco.com/boxelder.