USDA Expands the Federal Quarantine Area for Asian Longhorned Beetle in South Carolina

USDA photo by R Brad Thompson of Tree Climber inspecting a tree for Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in South Carolina.

USDA Expands the Federal Quarantine Area for Asian Longhorned Beetle in South Carolina

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2021—Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), together with South Carolina Clemson University's Department of Plant Industry (DPI), is adding portions of Charleston and Dorchester Counties to the quarantine area for the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) in South Carolina. This action is being taken in response to the detection of two infested trees found earlier this year just outside of the current quarantine area.

Eradication program officials discovered the infested trees during ongoing tree inspection surveys as they continue to look for and remove ALB from the area. The infested trees in Dorchester County are part of the larger infestation that was first discovered in Hollywood in June 2020. The removal of the two infested trees has not yet been scheduled. Tree inspection surveys will continue in the area.

APHIS and DPI have added 17.8 square miles of Charleston and Dorchester Counties to the 58.6 sq. miles square miles in Charleston County for a total of 76.4 square miles quarantined in South Carolina to prevent the spread of ALB to other areas. The quarantine area includes all of Hollywood and portions of Adams Run, Charleston, Johns Island, Meggett, and Ravenel.

People may not move regulated items, such as firewood (all hardwood species), nursery stock, logs, branches, etc., out of the area without a compliance agreement, permit, or certificate. A business or person wanting to move regulated articles out of the quarantine zone has two options. The first option is to enter into a compliance agreement with the program and self-issue the needed permit or certificate for those articles. This option saves time and effort for both the business or person and the program staff if that movement will occur on a regular basis. The second option, when that movement of regulated articles is infrequent, is to request program staff at least two working days in advance to inspect the articles and directly issue the needed permit or certificate. To register for the free compliance training, please call 1-843-973-8329.

If you live in the quarantine area, please help by allowing officials access to your property to inspect and remove trees. If you live in Charleston County, Dorchester County, or nearby counties, please look for ALB and examine your trees for any damage that may be caused by the beetle, such as dime-sized exit holes in tree trunks and branches. Please take pictures and, if possible, capture suspicious insects in a durable container and freeze them, which helps to preserve the insects for identification. ALB is not harmful to people or pets. Report the insect or tree damage by calling the ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938 or submitting a report online at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.

More information on ALB is available at the following website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/asian-longhorned-beetle

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