Spot It, Report It, Protect Trees In Your Community
- 15 years ago
National Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month Washington, DC (August) - Trees are vital to our communities. They impact our quality of life and provide shade, beauty and privacy; however, a harmful and invasive insect called the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is killing hardwood trees in cities in several states. August is National ALB Awareness Month and Federal and State agencies are asking communities to help protect trees and forests by actively checking for and reporting signs of this devastating beetle. The ALB is about an inch long and has a shiny black body with white spots and long black and white striped antennas. It's easy to spot, as is its destruction. The ALB larvae bore perfectly round, dime-sized holes in hardwood trees, including all species of maple ash, elm, horse chestnut, poplar and willow. Infested trees are starved of critical water and nutrients and will ultimately die. First discovered in New York in 1996, ALB infestations have been detected in cities and counties in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Illinois. Due to people moving firewood to different locations, the ALB could spread to Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and other states. Although the ALB has been eradicated in Chicago, there is still work to be done. Early detection is crucial to stopping infestations before they can spread. For this reason, Federal and State agencies are asking communities to spot and report any sightings or signs of the beetle throughout August, September and even into October. Citizens may learn about the signs of infestation, see pictures of the Asian Longhorned Beetle and find out how to report in their states by logging onto a new website created to help identify the Asian Longhorned Beetle. Log onto www.beetlebusters.info. It is equally important to prevent the spread of the ALB by not moving firewood. Experts advise buying firewood locally and burning it where it is bought. And never take leftover wood from a campsite or cabin back home - you could ...