INSECT THREATENS TO DESTROY CITY'S EUCALYPTUS TREES.

Byline: Angela M. Lemire Staff Writer

Forget the Y2K bug for now.

A new pest that's out and about, attacking eucalyptus trees and leaving gummy white substances on the shoes of passers-by, has the city's Urban Forestry Division appealing to the public for their help in getting rid of the bugs.

``Immediate action and treatment is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the trees,'' city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said.

The agricultural pest known as the eucalyptus redgum psyllid has riddled eucalyptus trees citywide, covering the leaves with honeydew and white mounds that resemble hail, Ortiz said.

The tell-tale sign of an infestation is the stained ground beneath the eucalyptus tree, experts said. The substance produced by the psyllid falls from the leaves to the ground. In severe infestations, thousands of droppings blanket the area and give the appearance of a recent hail storm.

Also, the psyllids' activities cause severe leaf drop. Arborists treat the trees with a special injection that fights disease, according to a spokeswoman for the forestry division.

Left untreated, the stripped tree invites another destructive pest to move in - the bark boring beetle that's capable of killing eucalyptus trees.

City officials urge residents to report infestations on city trees by calling [phone]. For privately owned trees, they recommend that residents contact a local pest control agent.