Free ALB Training Session in Worcester 2/24

It has now been more than a year since the Asian Longhorned Beetle ("ALB") was first discovered in Worcester. Residents of Greater Worcester can probably all list a number of ways that this beetle has negatively impacted their lives. While one of the most important things you can do to keep ALB from spreading is to be vigilant about reporting it when you see it, how many of you out there reading this actually know how to recognize ALB or signs of ALB tree damage?

To help residents of Greater Worcester educate themselves about this invasive pest, Jennifer Forman Orth, Ph.D., an invasive species expert with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, will be holding an Asian Longhorned Beetle training session in Worcester on February 24, 2010. Jennifer is the Massachusetts coordinator for the Northeast Forest Pests Survey and Outreach Project, a multi-state effort launched in 2008, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle was first identified in Worcester. The goal of the project is to teach people how to identify signs of ALB and how to reporting possible sightings.

These sessions have been run not only in Worcester, but all over Massachusetts, including Boston, Fall River, Framingham, Springfield, training hundreds of people and providing them with the tools to educate others about ALB. Jennifer will be returning to Worcester on Wednesday, February 24th at 1pm, to hold an ALB training session at the First Baptist Church. This session includes hands on training with beetle specimens and damaged wood. Attendees will also receive a pack of resource materials to assist them with identification of ALB and ALB tree damage, a guide to host trees, and more. Following the training, USDA staff will also be on hand to answer questions about the ALB Eradication Program.

This presentation is free and open to the public. Educators and local government staff are encouraged to attend. The First Baptist Church is located at the intersection of Park Ave. and Salisbury St., next to Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The church is handicapped accessible and there is parking on the premises. ALB T-shirts will be given to the first 50 registrants. Call 508-755-6143 or email jennifer.forman-orth AT state.ma.us to register.

New "Asian Longhorned Beetle Look-Alikes" Mini-Poster Available

A new "Asian Longhorned Beetle Look-Alikes" mini-poster is now available from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources. It features an image and description of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), an invasive and highly destructive pest which attacks hardwood trees, along with seven of the insects that ALB is most often confused with in Massachusetts. The mini-poster, based on a design from the Maine Department of Agriculture, can easily be printed on a standard 8.5x11 inch piece of paper and is ideal to hand out at outreach events or to post in schools and offices.

This sheet will come in handy during the spring and summer, when adult beetles are most active. In fall and winter, the one ALB look-alike you are likely to see is the Western conifer seed bug, which seeks temporary shelter from cold weather inside homes and other buildings. In the spring and early summer, the most commonly reported ALB look-alike is the native whitespotted pine sawyer beetle. Unlike ALB, which attacks live trees, the whitespotted pine sawyer only attacks dead or dying conifers. Also seen in the summer are the broadnecked root borer, a native pest that damages the root system of trees, the eyed click beetle, also native, and various other longhorned beetle species with the characteristic long antennae.

Look for this mini-poster at upcoming events, including New England Grows and the Lumber and Building Materials Expo, or print copies to hand out at your own events.

For more information about ALB, or to report a sighting, visit the Massachusetts ALB Cooperative Eradication Program website.

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.

Asian Longhorned Beetle documentary to air at Mass. State House

A different sort of "Beetlemania" is set for the Massachusetts State House next week, where a screening of the new documentary "Lurking in the Trees" will be held. The film tells the story of the recent Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) infestation in greater Worcester. Some experts fear that the infestation, which has already cost 25,000 trees, may be discovered in other cities and towns across Massachusetts and New England.

Lurking in the Trees 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.

The screening is being sponsored by Worcester legislators Senator Harriette Chandler, Senator Michael Moore, Representative Jim O’Day, Representative John Binienda, Representative John Fresolo, Representative Vincent Pedone, and Representative Robert Spellane; Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray, Commissioner Richard Sullivan of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation; Commissioner Scott Soares of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources; the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and the Nature Conservancy. Held on Monday, January 10th, the screening will be followed by a briefing and question-and-answer period, and is open to all legislators.

“This event will not only educate legislators from across the Commonwealth about the ALB in Worcester but it will address the relevancy of this infestation for every community by answering such question like how would this sort of devastation impact your city or town; is the ALB likely to spread to your community; what will be the overall economic impacts on Massachusetts and New England at large?” said Representative Jim O’Day. “Legislators will greatly benefit from information provided by the experts, advocates, and allies sponsoring this event.”

“The devastating effects of the ALB infestation are not isolated or limited to Worcester and Central Massachusetts,” said Senator Harriette Chandler. “As the state deals with this growing problem, it is important for all of us to consider what it means for our communities and what the economic and social effects will be on individual towns, cities, the Commonwealth, and beyond.”

“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.”

While Greater Worcester is working to prevent ALB from spreading further decimating the tree population, the beetle remains a threat to New England forests. The Nature Conservancy, a leading conservation organization that protects ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people around the world, will be airing Lurking in the Trees on television stations across the country in an effort to warn residents to keep an eye out for the pests. To order a copy of the DVD, visit the Lurking in the Trees website.

Lurking in the Trees is a production of The Hamburger Company. Its sponsors are The Nature Conservancy, the United State Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Grantham Foundation for the Environment, the United State Forest Service and the Continental Dialogue on Non-native Forest Insects and Diseases.

Source: Press release

ALB Maple Posters Now Available!

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has developed a new Asian longhorned beetle poster that highlights the threat that the beetle poses to maples and other hardwood trees. The poster is full-color, 18" by 24" and includes high-quality images generously shared by several photographers.

The poster focuses on the potential impact of ALB on Massachusetts maple trees and the state's maple syrup industry if this invasive pest were allowed to spread. Later this month, MDAR will distribute copies to attendees at the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association's Annual Meeting in Buckland, MA. The posters are also free to anyone in Massachusetts planning to do outreach about ALB, and are ideal for use by conservation organizations, schools, nurseries, maple product retailers, and others wanting to help spread the word about ALB. Look for free copies at New England Grows, the Lumber and Building Materials Expo, and maple-related events throughout the year. Individuals can also download a high-quality printable pdf of the poster.

Fall Brook Elementary Students Write Book About Invasive Species

Students at Fall Brook Elementary in Leominster, MA have written an ABC book about invasive species titled, "Aliens Have Landed: Exotic Invasive Species of New England". The book details exotic pests from the Asian longhorned beetle to the zebra mussel.

The students, now in the sixth grade, created the book last year in their science class as part of a Community Service Learning Project focusing on educating students and community members about invasive species.

Each page of the book, designed for grades 1-3, was written by a different student and describes the damage to the environment caused by non-native pests. One student wrote about the Asian longhorned beetle, "You wouldn't want to find one of these climbing up your hardwood trees!" Another wrote about invasive species in general, "Spread the word about these dreaded invaders!" The entries in the book are accompanied by inventive and colorful drawings.

Teacher Lynn Fiandaca said the students "loved everything about the project" and became experts on the invasive species they studied. She said she was "impressed with their dedication to learning and sharing information with the community. They really did develop a sense of stewardship and commitment to keep our local ecosystem healthy and diverse."

The Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project (MIPOP), created by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, often sends teachers information about invasive species, including flyers, posters and DVDs. Staff from MIPOP also visit schools in MA to give talks to students about the Asian longhorned beetle and other invaders. Teachers interested in ordering outreach materials or scheduling talks can contact jennifer.forman-orth (AT) state.ma.us.

Learn About Invasive Forest Pests at "Emerald Ash Borer University"

Those seeking to learn more about the emerald ash borer now have a great new resource available. "Emerald Ash Borer University" is a collaborative effort by the U.S. Forest Service, Michigan State University, Ohio State University and Purdue University. The website offers free webinars with topics from the latest research on EAB to the most effective ways to get the word out about this pest. Past webinars are archived so you can always go back and view any information you might have missed

The emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, “EAB”), native to Asia, was first discovered in the U.S. in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has been found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin, and was most recently discovered this past June in New York. EAB causes damage to ash trees by disrupting water and nutrient transport as the larvae feed on the inner bark; eventually, this damage kills the tree. The pest attacks all species of ash, including green, white, black and blue ash, and is considered a serious threat to nursery operators, forest products industries, and parklands.

Help protect Massachusetts ash trees: If you think you have seen EAB, submit a report and photos, or call our Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779. Any specimens you capture should be placed in a jar and kept in the freezer.