Central MA Residents Must Check Trees in Wake of Invasive Beetle

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Reporter

Residents of Central Massachusetts are encouraged to check their local trees in an effort to spot Asian Longhorned Beetles – an invasive species of beetles that kill the trees that they inhabit.

Around this time of year is when the beetles are easiest to spot, as many of them begin to emerge from the trees that they dwell in.

“During August, we’re asking folks to give us ten minutes,” said Robin Rose of the USDA. “Take a close look at the trees in your backyard or favorite hiking or camping destination. The beetle is somewhat menacing-looking, but it is harmless to humans and pets. It can be seen on trees, branches, walls, outdoor furniture, cars, and sidewalks and caught in pool filters.”

More than 130,000 trees throughout Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and Illinois have been lost to Asian Longhorned Beetles since 1996. Worcester County alone has lost over 34,000 trees after five years of eradication efforts.

What to Look for

In addition to spotting the beetle on the outside of the tree or somewhere else in the wilderness, neighborhood trees can be inspected for signs of beetle infestation.

If a beetle exits a tree, there will be a dime-sized, perfectly round hole on the tree. Additionally, oval depressions on tree bark (where eggs may have been laid), sawdust-like material either on the ground or branches of the trees, and sap seeping from wounds on the tree are all signs that a tree may be infested.

If a potential beetle or infested tree is found, authorities are asking residents to go to http://asianlonghornedbeetle.com for more information on how to report the beetle.

“We have found one beetle this year in the Green Hill Park area; the only beetle that we have found so far this year,” said Clint McFarland, the Massachusetts Asian Longhorned Beetle Project Manager. “It was actually found by a homeowner, almost a week and a half ago. They had called us and we went out right away to confirm it.”

Education Efforts

Because this is the most active month for the beetle outside of the tree, a wealth of resources are being put together to help educate the public and raise awareness for the eradication of Asian Longhorned Beetles.

While there are still infested trees being found – recently around 500 trees were cut down in the Green Hill Park area and an additional eight have been found throughout Worcester – McFarland says that the message is certainly starting to get out there. With August being crowned Check Trees Month, McFarland and others are doing everything in their power to ensure that the message is received so that Worcester can work to completely eradicate this invasive beetle species.

“This is a big month for the emergence of the beetle,” said McFarland. “We have a big push right now on both outreach and awareness because people can actually see the beetle. We are trying to get in as many areas as possible throughout the state. We actually have a public meeting with city management around the Green Hill Park area next Thursday to further educate people in the area.”