Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB): August Is 'Tree Check Month' In Shrewsbury

Press release from the Town of Shrewsbury:

August 19, 2020

August is the peak time of year to spot the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) as adults emerge from trees. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is declaring August as “Tree Check Month.”

The Asian longhorned beetle is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks twelve different types of hardwood trees to include: maple, elm, horse chestnut, birch, and willow.

The current cooperative eradication program had previously established a 110 square mile quarantine zone in Worcester County. There are six communities included in the quarantine zone: Worcester, Boylston, West Boylston, Shrewsbury, Holden, and Auburn.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, USDA APHIS, and the US Forest Service all work together to eradicate ALB from MA. The only effective means to eliminate ALB is to remove infested trees and destroy them by chipping or burning.

To prevent further spread of the insect, quarantines are established in an effort to avoid transporting infested trees and branches from the area. Early detection of infestations and rapid treatment response are critical in the success of eradicating the beetle.

The Forest Health Program utilizes ALB traps as an additional survey tool assisting the Eradication program with locating previous undetected ALB infestations. If you see an ALB trap please do not disturb it and if you notice any damage or tampering to a trap, please report it to the Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program at 508-852-8090.

REPORT IT:

• If you think you’ve seen the beetle or signs of an infestation, resident can report the insect or tree damage by calling the ALB hotline at 866-702-9938.
• Or report online at AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.

DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD CAMPAIGN

For additional information, please contact the Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program at 508-852-8090 or click the Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts link below.

Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts

This press release was produced by the Town of Shrewsbury. The views expressed here are the author’s own.