combat invasive tree-killing insects and help save the environment · 2010-11-16 · combat...

Combat invasive tree-killing insects and help save theenvironment

Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Long-Horned Beetle

Did you know that for the past 15years invasive insects have wreakedhavoc in the United States by destroyingmillions of trees, costing taxpayers millions of dollars to combat them andendangering our environment? Treesthat are damaged or killed by theseinsects can also contribute to poweroutages as those dead or dying treescan fall onto overhead utility lines.

Two of these insects are of particularinterest in our Upstate New York andNew England service territories. Theyare the Emerald Ash Borer and theAsian Long-Horned Beetle, whichwere accidentally introduced to theUnited States, and have spread primarilybecause of human transportation ofinfested firewood.

A significant infestation of Asian Long-Horned Beetle was found inWorcester, Massachusetts last year.Asian Long-Horned Beetle continuesto be a significant problem and threatin the New York City, Long Island andNew Jersey area, while the EmeraldAsh Borer is now (as of August 2010)been found in 6 counties in New YorkState and on the “doorsteps” in WesternNew York and north in Canada.

New York State has now expandedthe EAB quarantine to 18 counties,including Ulster, Green and the 16counties west of (and including)Wayne, south to Chemung, fromLakes Ontario and Erie to the Pennsylvania border which restricts the movement of ash trees and ash wood products.

Most importantly, only firewood thathas been heat treated to eliminatepests can be imported and movedthroughout the state.

Untreated firewood can only bemoved within a 50 mile radius fromits source and must be accompaniedwith proof of source—such as, areceipt, label or self-issued certificate.

Authorities fear the pest may spreadto other New England states. Althoughthe beetles are naturally slow movers,they can get to other states and areasby wood that is carried by campers,loggers, tree companies or infectednursery stock.

Important notice: Customers areurged to watch and report symptomsor infestation in trees.

Look for and report these symptoms:

Emerald Ash Borer – small half-moon, ‘D’-shaped exit holes (about1/8” in diameter) on ash trees, treedeath from the top down, “s”-shaped,serpentine larval galleries under thebark and usually a proliferation ofsprouts on the lower stem. In someinstances, small woodpeckers mayleave jagged, shallow holes in the barkin their feeding search for the insectlarvae. Green, white, black and blueash (and/or horticultural varieties) arethe trees infected and killed.

Asian Long-Horned Beetle – 3/8inch round exit holes on the trunk andbranches, sawdust and sap on andaround trees, round pits in the bark(egg niches) and oozing sap from eggniches in Summer, often on maple,horse chestnut, birch and willow trees.

To help minimize the spread of thesedestructive insects, only purchase fire-wood that has been harvested locallyor heat treated. If you are camping,purchase your firewood near your site,do not move wood from your propertyto your campgrounds or seasonal residences.

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This is an important notice. Please have it translated.

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For more information and to reportinfestations:

New York: Visit www.dec.ny.govor call 1-866-640-0652(email:firewood@gw.dec.state.ny.us).

Massachusetts: If you think you haveseen this beetle, we encourage you tosubmit a report and photos, or you cancall Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779 or goto www.massnrc. org/pests/ albreport.aspx – images may be sent directly topestalert@ massnrc.org.

New Hampshire: To report please contact: Division of Plan Industry, NHDepartment of Agriculture, Markets &Food, Post Office Box 2042, Concord,NH 03302-2042 telephone: 603-271-2561; email jweaver@agr.state.nh.us orgo to www.agriculture.nh.gov.

Rhode Island: Although no beetles have been reported, please contactwww.dem.ri.gov.

Additional sites you may visit tolearn more about this infestation:

USDA Forest Service Asian LonghornedBeetle homepage contains up-to-dateinformation on the battle against ALB in the U.S.

www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/alb/index.shtm

USDA APHIS Pest Detection andManagement Programs Source forinformation on government regulationsand actions to control ALB

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/

UMass Extension Asian LonghornedBeetle Fact Sheet

www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_sheets/wood_attackers/asian_longhorned_beetle.html

Cornell University ALB Diagnostic Web Site

www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/Woodys/ALB_Mahaffey/ALBHomepage.html

Exotic Forest Pest Information Systemfor North AmericaCavey, JF. 2000. Anoplophoraglabripennis (Motschulsky)

http://spfnic.fs.fed.us/exfor/data/pestreports.cfm?pestidval=53&langdisplay=english

National Park Service Pest Alert,Firewood: Threat from Invasive Beetles

Information about quarantine regulationsaffecting firewood movement

http://massnrc.org/pests/linkeddocuments/USDAfirewoodpestalert.pdf

National Grid is an international energy delivery company. In the U.S.,National Grid delivers electricity toapproximately 3.3 million customersin Massachusetts, New Hampshire,New York and Rhode Island andmanages the electricity network onLong Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority(LIPA). It is the largest distributor ofnatural gas in the northeastern U.S.,serving approximately 3.4 million customers in Massachusetts, NewHampshire, New York and RhodeIsland. National Grid also owns over4,000 megawatts of contracted elec-tricity generation that provides powerto over one million LIPA customers.

CM4512 (11/10) Bug Infestation

The Emerald Ash Borer has four life stages:adult, egg, larva and pupa. The adult beetlehas a shiny emerald green body with a cop-pery red or purple abdomen. The beetlemeasures 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide.

Emerald Ash Borers have killed over 50 mil-lion ash trees in the state of Michigan sincebeing found in 2002.

Adult Emerald Ash Borers are most notable inJune and July, but can be seen from May toearly September.

Asian Long-Horned Beetle host trees mostpreferred are maple trees (sugar, Norway, redand silver), boxelder, horsechestnut, elmsand all willow species.

Adult exit holes are perfectly round, 3/8”diameter…almost as if the tree was drilled.

Adult leaf-feeding damage can occur as thebeetle tears away at the veins of the leaf, creat-ing jagged holes rather than circular or ovalholes left by other leaf feeding insects.

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