March 31, 2015
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:
March 30 – Ohio Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program Announces 2015 Plans…[read more]
March 13 – APHIS Invites Public Comment on National Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Any interested persons are invited to comment during the 45-day open-comment period. APHIS will consider all comments received on or before April 27, 2015…[read more]
OHIO – First detection in June 2011
Regulated Area: 61 sq. miles
61 – Clermont County (Tate Township, Monroe Township, Stonelick/Batavia Township)
Infested Trees: 15,969
15,919 – Tate Township
47 – Monroe Township
3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
Removals: 63,924
14,872 Infested:
14,922 – Tate Township
47 – Monroe Township
3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
0 – East Fork Recreation Area
49,052 High-risk hosts
39,893 – Tate Township
1,138 – Monroe Township
0 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
8,021 – East Fork Recreation Area
Surveys: 1,481,797
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. Click Ohio for more information.
MASSACHUSETTS – First detection in August 2008
Regulated Area: 110 sq. miles*
110 – Worcester County (Worcester, West Boylston, Boylston, Holden, Shrewsbury, Auburn)
Infested Trees: 24,226**
20,981 – Worcester
1,078 – Shrewsbury
261 – Holden
678 – West Boylston
1,228 – Boylston
0 – Auburn
6 – Boston
Removals: 34,354**
24,030 Infested:
21,325 – Worcester
1,002 – Shrewsbury
212 – Holden
385 – West Boylston
1,100 – Boylston
0 – Auburn
6 – Boston
10,512 High-risk hosts:
10,408 – Worcester
103 – Shrewsbury
1 – Holden
Surveys: Inspections continue
* Boston (Suffolk County) declared eradication in 2014, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 10 sq. miles.
** Due to additional host trees removed through acreage cuts within the regulated area, 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 County. Staff continues to monitor regulated area, respond to service calls and conduct training sessions for compliance agreements. To report suspicious activity, please call 508-852-8110. The program continues to remove and destroy infested trees. Infested trees are removed throughout the year, as they are detected. 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: 137 sq. miles*
58 – Kings County (Brooklyn)
28 – Queens County (Queens)
51 – Nassau/Suffolk County (Amityville)
Infested Trees: 7,004
2,327 – Brooklyn
1,831 – Queens
110 – Manhattan
2,644 – Amityville
27 – Islip
51 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
Removals: 19,344
6,909 Infested:
2,327 – Brooklyn
1,831 – Queens
110 – Manhattan
2,563 – Amityville
27 – Islip
51 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
12,435 High-risk hosts:
139 – Brooklyn
911 – Queens
20 – Manhattan
932 – Amityville
154 – Islip
10,274 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
Surveys: Inspections continue
* New infestation detected in the Amityville area in 2013 resulted in an increase of the regulated area by 28 sq. miles. Manhattan (New York County) and Staten Island (Richmond County) declared eradication in 2013, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 26 sq. miles. Islip (Suffolk County) declared eradication in 2011, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 7 sq. miles.
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 Ohio program is hosting open office hours on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the program office, which is located at 1761 State Route 125, Suite C, Amelia, Ohio 45102.
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.
