March 30, 2020
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:
ALB programs are complying with federal, state, and local precautions regarding office closures and limiting in-person interactions due to COVID-19; if you have questions about program operations in your state, please call your local office:
- 1-866-265-0301 if you live in New York.
- 508-852-8090 if you live in Massachusetts.
- 513-381-7180 if you live in Ohio.
In Ohio, wood chips will not be available for pick-up on Saturday, April 4 due to the State’s Stay at Home order.
OHIO – First detection in June 2011
Regulated Area: 56.5 sq. miles*
56.5 – Clermont County (Tate and Williamsburg Townships)
Infested Trees: 20,348
20,263 – Tate Township
48 – Monroe Township
3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
34 – East Fork Recreational Area
Removals: 104,471
19,122 Infested:
19,037 – Tate Township
48 – Monroe Township
3 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
34 – East Fork Recreation Area
85,920 High-risk hosts
68,407 – Tate Township
1,138 – Monroe Township
0 – Stonelick/Batavia Township
16,375 – East Fork Recreation Area
Surveys: 3,307,542
* Monroe Township declared eradication in September 2018, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by .5 sq. miles. Stonelick and Batavia Townships declared eradication in March 2018, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 5 sq. miles.
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. Infested trees are removed throughout the year, as they are detected. The wood disposal yard 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, however wood chips will not be available on Sat., April 4. 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: 24,208**
20,759 – Worcester
1,097 – Shrewsbury
233 – Holden
699 – West Boylston
1,413 – Boylston
1 – Auburn
6 – Boston
Removals: 36,246**
24,190 Infested:
20,759 – Worcester
1,097 – Shrewsbury
235 – Holden
697 – West Boylston
1,396 – Boylston
0 – Auburn
6 – Boston
12,056 High-risk hosts:
11,950 – Worcester
44 – Shrewsbury
0 – Holden
33 – West Boylston
29 – Boylston
0 – Auburn
0 – Boston
Surveys: Inspections continue
* Boston (Suffolk County) declared eradication in 2014, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 10 sq. miles.
** In 2018 audits were performed on the tree totals and the counts shown represent the correct totals. 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 is now located at 0 Dr. Paul Ware Drive in Boylston and is open for business Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Click Massachusetts for more information.
NEW YORK – First detection in August 1996
Regulated Area: 53 sq. miles*
28 – Kings County (Brooklyn)
32 – Queens County (Queens)
51 – Nassau/Suffolk County (Amityville)
Infested Trees: 7,205
2,327 – Brooklyn
1,831 – Queens
110 – Manhattan
2,853 – Amityville
27 – Islip
57 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
Removals: 24,043
7,191 Infested:
2,327 – Brooklyn
1,831 – Queens
110 – Manhattan
2,839 – Amityville
27 – Islip
57 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
16,852 High-risk hosts:
139 – Brooklyn
911 – Queens
20 – Manhattan
5,354 – Amityville
154 – Islip
10,268 – Staten Island, includes Pralls Island
Surveys: Inspections continue
* Brooklyn and Queens declared eradication in 2019, resulting in a reduction of the regulated area by 58 sq. miles. A 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 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.
OTHER STATES:
Eradication efforts eliminated infestations and removed regulations in Illinois (2008) and New Jersey (2013).
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 infested areas. 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:
WEBSITE: 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. 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.
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 comprised 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 comprised of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, 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 comprised of the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
