ALB eNewsletter - April 30, 2014

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April 30, 2014

This eNewsletter is designed to keep you up-to-date with Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) eradication efforts and serve as a meaningful resource for the most current information. Presently, there are active eradication programs operating in three states: New York, Massachusetts and Ohio. The following information pertains to eradication activities in each of these states.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

April 16 – USDA adds 28 square miles to ALB regulated area on Long Island, N.Y. in response to detection of infested trees. For more information please read the Federal Order issued on April 11 or the Press Release announcing surveys that was issued on September 12.

 

OHIO – First detection in June 2011

Regulated Area: 61 sq. miles

61 – Clermont County (Tate Township, Monroe Township, Stonelick/Batavia Township)

Infested Trees: 11,940

11,890 – Tate Township

47 – Monroe Township

3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township

Removals: 39,910

10,956 Infested:

   10,906 – Tate Township

   47 – Monroe Township

   3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township

   0 – East Fork Recreation Area

28,954 High-risk hosts

   23,314 – Tate Township

   1,138 – Monroe Township

   0 – Stonelick/Batavia Township

   4,502 – East Fork Recreation Area

Surveys: 1,164,246

Ground and aerial survey crews continue to conduct delimiting surveys, inspecting all host trees throughout the regulated areas in Clermont County. Staff continues to monitor regulated areas, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements. To report suspicious activity, please call 513-381-7180. Property owners are asked to communicate any concerns in advance of tree removal work being conducted on their property with Davey Tree Expert Company by calling 513-226-9138. Infested trees are removed throughout the year, as they are detected. The wood disposal yard located at located at 2896 State Route 232 in Bethel is open for business: Mon. through Fri. from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wood chips are available for residents from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the first Sat. of every month. To get specific information about eradication program activities, community members may also call the eradication program office directly at (513) 381-7180, or request to schedule an appointment. Click Ohio for more information.

 

MASSACHUSETTS – First detection in August 2008

Regulated Area: 120 sq. miles

110 – Worcester County (Worcester, West Boylston, Boylston, Holden, Shrewsbury, Auburn)

10 – Norfolk/Suffolk Counties (Boston, Brookline)

Infested Trees:  23,773*

20,711 – Worcester

1,055 – Shrewsbury

249 – Holden

528 – West Boylston

1,224 – Boylston

0 – Auburn

6 – Boston

Removals: 33,810*

23,560 Infested:

   20,919 – Worcester

   984 – Shrewsbury

   204 – Holden

   347 – West Boylston

   1,100 – Boylston

   0 – Auburn

   6 – Boston

10,250 High-risk hosts:

   10,250 – Worcester

Surveys: 4,630,723

* Please note that total numbers for detection and removal data are under review. Due to high-risk host removals and acreage cuts in Worcester County, the actual number of infested trees and the actual number of trees removed is unknown.

Ground and aerial survey crews continue to conduct delimiting surveys, inspecting all host trees throughout the regulated areas in Worcester and Suffolk/Norfolk counties. Staff continues to monitor regulated areas, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements. To report suspicious activity, please call 508-852-8110. In Worcester County, the program continues to remove and destroy infested trees. Infested trees are removed throughout the year, as they are detected. There are no removals taking place in Suffolk/Norfolk counties. The wood disposal yard located at Ararat Street in Worcester is open for normal business hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Click Massachusetts for more information.

 

NEW YORK – First detection in August 1996

Regulated Area: 109 sq. miles*

26 – Kings County (Brooklyn)

58 – Queens County (Queens)

23 – Nassau/Suffolk County (Amityville)

Infested Trees: 6,729**

2,327 – Brooklyn

1,831 – Queens

110 – Manhattan

2,383 – Amityville***

27 – Islip

51 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island

Removals:  18,687

6,485 Infested:

   2,327 – Brooklyn

   1,831 – Queens

   110 – Manhattan

   2,139 – Amityville***

   27 – Islip

   51 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island

12,202 High-risk hosts:

   139 – Brooklyn

   911 – Queens

   20 – Manhattan

   704 – Amityville***

   154 – Islip

   10,274 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island

Surveys: Inspections continue

* Manhattan (New York County, N.Y.) and Staten Island (Richmond County) declared eradication in 2013, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 26 sq. miles to 109 sq. miles from 135 sq. miles. Islip (Suffolk County, N.Y.) declared eradication in 2011, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 7 sq. miles to 135 sq. miles from 142 sq. miles.

** Due to high-risk host removals the actual number of infested trees is unknown.

*** Amityville numbers include West Babylon and Farmingdale and may be broken out once the scope of infestation is known.

Ground and aerial survey crews continue to conduct surveys, inspecting all host trees throughout the regulated areas in Kings, Queens, and Nassau/Suffolk counties. Staff continues to monitor regulated areas, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements. Click New York for more information.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

The program has no public meetings planned at this time.

 

REMINDERS:

The mission of the eradication program is to help save trees and to eliminate the beetle from each affected state. Residents in Asian longhorned beetle regulated areas cannot move firewood or wood debris outside of the regulated area. Residents are also discouraged from moving firewood and wood debris inside the regulated area. In the event of inclement weather, surveys and infested tree removals may be delayed or cancelled.

 

If you think you’ve found an Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) or signs of infestation, always record the area where the specimen was found. If possible, capture the insect you think is an Asian longhorned beetle, place it in a jar and freeze it — this will preserve the insect for easy identification. Take digital pictures of the insect and damage to your trees in case officials request them, and Report It.

 

More Information:

There are other ways to stay informed about Asian longhorned beetle eradication efforts:

ON THE WEB: www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com or APHIS Asian longhorned beetle

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/asianlonghornbeetle

YOUTUBE: youtube.com/user/BeetleBusters

TWITTER: @StopALB

 

For local information about eradication activities, or if you think you’ve found an insect or signs of infestation, please call 1-866-702-9938, or contact your state’s ALB eradication program office directly:

Ohio: (513) 381-7180

Massachusetts: (508) 852-8090

New York: (800) STOP-ALB or (631) 598-5943

 

 

Asian longhorned beetle eradication programs are cooperative programs. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) works with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and partnering organizations in each affected state. In Ohio, the cooperative eradication program is composed of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio State University Extension and Clermont County. In Massachusetts, the cooperative eradication program is composed of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the city of Worcester, the towns of Holden, West Boylston, Boylston, Shrewsbury and Auburn, the city of Boston, and the town of Brookline. In New York, the cooperative eradication program is composed of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.