Asian Longhorned Beetle: If you love trees be on the lookout.
24,000 trees in Worcester were cut down this year due to Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation. They'd gone unnoticed for probably 10 years.
These are before and after photographs. If this was my backyard I'd be devastated. How about you? They have spread to the town of West Boylston for a total zone of 74 sq miles.
Scroll down for YouTube clips...good closeUps of live beetles.
As you can see the spruce trees in the backyards are not desirable for these beetles. They prefer maple, willow, birch, poplar, elm, planar, horse chestnut and other deciduous trees.
If you know what to look for we can all help to catch new arrivals before they spread. Massachusetts has the biggest infestation--more than all other states combined. ALB were first found infesting trees in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, New York in August 1996. It is believed that ALB entered the U.S. in wood pallets holding pipe shipped from China for a sewer project in the late 1980s. In September 1996 an infestation was also found in Amityville, NY, several miles east of the Greenpoint infestation. It is thought that this infestation occurred as a result of movement of infested wood from Greenpoint. They have also been found in Chicago, several towns in NJ. And recently in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Since the beetles favor maple trees states where maple syrup is harvested must be on the lookout. Know how to I.D. these beetles if you live in Vermont, NH, or Maine.
Here is a picture of the adult beetle...their bodies are shiny black and white with powder blue feet. The Asian longhorneed beetle is 0.75" - 1.5" long with antennae that are 1 to 2 times its body length.
Spotting ALB damage in winter. Easier to see in winter. This webpage has photos of egg laying sites and exit holes which are perfectly round and 3/8" in diameter.
http://massnrc.org/pests/blog/2008/12/spotting-asian-longhorned-beetle-damage.html
Mass Dept of Agriculture Resources has a great FAQ page and lots of ways to learn more and participate in training sessions, etc.
http://massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/asianlonghorned.html
YouTube clips I have previewed and recommend to learn more:
If Plant Could Talk website Youtube clip with SciFi music track:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeLkIcGZnOU
About infestation in NYC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt4LEWiXu3U&feature=related