Come See What’s "Lurking in the Trees"
“Lurking in the Trees,” the new documentary about the devastating invasion of the Asian Longhorned Beetle, will be screened next Wednesday, January 20th, at 7:30pm at Sudbury Grange Hall in Sudbury, MA. The screening is presented by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the Sudbury Grange. After the movie, a question and answer session will be held, to be facilitated by Jennifer Forman Orth, Ph.D., State Plant Pest Survey Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. Beetle specimens and damaged wood will also be on display. This event is free and open to the public.
“Lurking in the Trees” tells the story of the recently discovered Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) infestation in greater Worcester. First discovered in Worcester in August 2008, this is the fifth known infestation of ALB in North America. Some experts fear that the infestation, which has already cost 25,000 trees, may be discovered in other cities and towns across the Commonwealth and New England. The film presents Worcester as a town that could be anywhere in America, filled with people who are seeing the devastation of forest pests on a personal level and rising to the challenge of protecting the entire region’s vital natural resources.
“As the first state with any substantial hardwood forest resources and the gateway to the Northeastern U. S. maple sugar industry, eradication of ALB is an urgent matter for our Commonwealth,” said Commissioner Scott Soares. “Thanks in large part to the outstanding partnership of local, state, and federal entities, we have already seen great gains on ALB eradication and I look forward to our sustained efforts to protect the agricultural and forest resources of Massachusetts.”
“The loss of trees really means something to everybody,” said Jordan Levy, WTAG radio talk show host. “You don’t have to be a big-time environmentalist to get this message. All you have to do is drive down some of the streets that don’t have any more trees, and see the whole difference in your lifestyle.”
For more about the Lurking in the Trees documentary, visit www.lurkinginthetrees.org. For all the latest information about Asian longhorned beetle in Massachusetts, visit our ALB page.
