Our Asian Longhorned Beetle “T3″ Train-the-Trainer sessions are starting up again next week, but there’s still time to register!
As part of the Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is seeking stakeholders in Fitchburg, Leominster, New Bedford, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge and surrounding communities to help organize tree surveys, participate in Asian longhorned beetle “Train the Trainer” sessions, and plan other activities to help raise awareness about the Asian longhorned beetle and other invasive pests.
Our upcoming “Train the Trainer” sessions include:
- Wednesday, August 18, 6pm-7:30pm. Doyle Center, Leominster, MA
- Tuesday, August 17, 6:30-7:30pm. Charles River Conservancy, 4 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA [CANCELED]
- Tuesday, August 10, 8:30am-10am. Doyle Center, Leominster, MA
You can also join us for a free info session covering ALB and other invasive species at:
- Thursday, August 12, 6:30pm. Buttonwood Zoo. New Bedford, MA
If you work in the green industry, education, government, or are involved with an environmental group or neighborhood association, and you are concerned about the potential impact that ALB or other invasive pests could have on your community’s trees, sign up for a session or suggest your own event: email Jennifer.Forman-Orth@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735. Kickoff meetings to plan more events for this summer and fall will be happening soon!
Note: Mass. Foresters Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits and Mass. Arborists Association Certified Arborist credits are now available for the Leominster sessions!
While the Asian longhorned beetle has not been found in Fitchburg, Leominster or New Bedford, every town and city in Massachusetts remains at risk. If you think you’ve seen an Asian longhorned beetle or signs of ALB tree damage, report it here or call 1-866-702-9938.
August 3rd, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects, volunteer
Officials from the US Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, the city of Boston, and the town of Brookline have scheduled public meetings to discuss the recent discovery of Asian longhorned beetles (ALB) in Jamaica Plain and eradication efforts:
- Wednesday, July 21, 6:30-8:30pm. Brookline Public Library, Hunneman Hall, 361 Washington St.
- Thursday, July 22, 6:30 to 8:30pm. Faulkner Hospital, Huvos Auditorium [Organized by State Representative Jeffrey Sanchez]
- Thursday, July 29, 6:30-8:30pm. Brookline Public Library, Hunneman Hall, 361 Washington St.
- Saturday, July 31, 10am-12pm. Curtis Hall, 20 South St., Jamaica Plain [ALB Resource Fair]
July 15th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, education, insects
The Greater Worcester Land Trust is looking for volunteers to assist with Asian longhorned beetle tree surveys in the Worcester area on Tuesdays during the month of July. Sessions will be held from noon – 1:00pm (when the lighting is best for detecting ALB tree damage). No experience necessary – experienced GWLT members will hold a brief training session before the survey. All survey materials will be provided, but bring a good pair of binoculars if you have them.
Scheduled Dates:
- July 13, Angel Brook (Shrewsbury Street, West Boylston).
- July 20, Kinneywood (will meet at the trail entrance to Kinneywood – on map)
- July 27, Nick’s Woods
- Rain Date: August 3
If the day is overcast, the survey will be rescheduled, so please register by emailing mary@gwlt.org
July 9th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects, volunteer
During the July 4th weekend, a small infestation of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle was found in Jamaica Plain (Boston). The site is at Faulkner Hospital, just across from the Arnold Arboretum. Six infested maple trees were found, in close proximity to each other, and have already been removed by USDA/DCR. Surveys of the area continue, in order to determine the extent of the infestation.
It is extremely important to get the word out ASAP to everyone in the Boston and Brookline area to be on the lookout for:
- Adult Asian longhorned beetles (shiny black beetles with white spots and long, banded antennae)
- ALB exit holes (dime-sized, perfectly round holes, especially in maple, but also in birch, elm, horse chestnut, willow and other hardwood trees, but not oak, cherry or crabapple. Also does not attack conifers like pine, hemlock or spruce)
- ALB egg-laying sites (divots in the bark ranging in size from 1/4 to 3/4 inches across – fresh pits often have oozing, foaming sap)
If you see anything suspicious, report it immediately using our ALB reporting form, or call toll-free: 1-866-702-9938. Be sure to get photos or collect a specimen if you can.
If you are with an environmental group or other organization that needs outreach materials, the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources will provide you with ID cards, fact sheets, etc., for free. MDAR can also provide public speakers for ALB training sessions. Contact jennifer.forman-orth@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735 for more info.
Spread the word, not the beetle! Get all the latest ALB news at the ALB Cooperative Eradication Program website, subscribe to this bi-weekly newsletter, or follow ALB on Twitter at albtweets.
July 6th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects
As part of the Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is seeking stakeholders in the communities of Fitchburg, Leominster, New Bedford and surrounding communities to help organize tree surveys, participate in Asian longhorned beetle “Train the Trainer” sessions, and plan other activities to help raise awareness about the Asian longhorned beetle and other invasive pests.
Our upcoming “Train the Trainer” sessions include:
- Tuesday, August 10, 8:30am-10am. Doyle Center, Leominster, MA
- Wednesday, August 18, 6pm-7:30pm. Doyle Center, Leominster, MA
You can also join us for a free info session covering ALB and other invasive species at:
- Thursday, August 12, 6:30pm. Buttonwood Zoo. New Bedford, MA
If you work in the green industry, education, government, or are involved with an environmental group or neighborhood association, and you are concerned about the potential impact that ALB or other invasive pests could have on your community’s trees, sign up for a session or suggest your own event: email Jennifer.Forman-Orth@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735. Kickoff meetings to plan more events for this summer and fall will be happening soon!
Note: Mass. Foresters Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) credits and Mass. Arborists Association Certified Arborist credits are now available for the Leominster sessions!
While the Asian longhorned beetle has not been found in Fitchburg, Leominster or New Bedford, every town and city in Massachusetts remains at risk. If you think you’ve seen an Asian longhorned beetle or signs of ALB tree damage, report it here or call 1-866-702-9938.
June 29th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects, volunteer
As part of the Friends of the Public Garden 40th Anniversary celebration, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is seeking volunteers to assist with an Asian longhorned beetle tree survey in Boston Common next Thursday, June 23 at 3pm.
While ALB has not been found in Boston, groups like the Friends remain vigilant about protecting the health of the city’s trees. With their tree mapping project completed, they can now tell exactly where the trees susceptible to ALB are located, making these surveys more efficient. After a brief training session, volunteers will use maps created from the tree inventory to look for evidence of the Asian longhorned beetle. For information about the event, call Friends of the Public Garden at 617-723-8144. Sign up as a volunteer by calling Harron and Associates at 617-267-7366 or email marjorie@harronandassociates.com.
If you think you’ve seen an Asian longhorned beetle or signs of ALB tree damage, report it here or call 1-866-702-9938.
June 14th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects, volunteer
Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, “EAB”) is an invasive, wood-boring beetle that has caused the loss of tens of millions of ash trees in North America, just within the past eight years. While it has not been found in New England, it has been found as close as New York and Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts and other New England states do yearly surveys to check for its presence.
The USDA’s Otis Lab on Cape Cod helps develop methods for dealing with plant pests like EAB, Asian longhorned beetle, and winter moth. The lab is about to receive a new parasitic wasp from Russia that is a candidate for use as a biological control against EAB. Working in quarantine, Otis Lab must first determine whether this wasp poses any threats to native species, and is seeking assistance finding dying trees that are infested with native wood-borers. If you are an arborist, forester, tree warden, master gardener, naturalist or other tree expert, and know of any trees in Massachusetts that currently have active infestations of native wood borers, such as the bronze birch borer, two-lined chestnut borer, and others, please contact Bob Childs at UMass Extension ASAP, at rchilds@psis.umass.edu.
June 4th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
biocontrol, emerald ash borer, insects
Are invasive plants plaguing your neighborhood? Head to Shelburne, MA this Saturday, May 22 to the Highlands’ Least-Wanted Invasive Plants Forum to learn why invasive plants are harmful to our wildlife and landscape and what can you do about them, and then attend a hands-on field session where you will learn to identify and remove garlic mustard. This free event, hosted by The Trustees of Reservations’ Highland Communities Initiative, the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, and the Town of Shelburne Open Space Committee, and co-sponsored by a number of organizations including the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, will be held from 9am to 3pm. Full details including how to register can be found in this flyer.
May 19th, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
education, invasive plants
Back in the fall of 2009, California wine producers were alarmed to discover that a new pest had invaded their vineyards: the European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana or “EGVM”). This is the first known occurrence of this pest in the USA.
The EGVM is a serious agricultural threat to producers of grapes (Vitis vinifera) and its discovery has led to a quarantine covering parts of California including Napa and Sonoma Counties. Originally from southern Italy, EVGM is currently found across Europe, as well as in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. While grape is the preferred host species of this moth, it will infest other plants including blackberry, gooseberries and cherries. The feeding behavior of EGVM varies by generation, with the first generation of caterpillars boring into the flowers and flower buds and those hatching later in the growing season attacking the fruit. Secondary damage in the form of fungal infection can also occur in affected plants.
The identifying characteristics of EGVM include a body length of approximately 6-8mm, with the females being slightly larger than the males, a wingspan of 11-13mm, and tan-colored forewings with dark blotches. The eggs of EGVM are round, flat, laid singly, and 0.6-0.8mm in size; their color changes from creamy white to black over time. The tan to dark brown caterpillars get as large as 12-15mm before they form cocoons.
While it is not known how EGVM was introduced into California, some wine producers have admitted to smuggling grape plant cuttings into Napa County from Europe in the past. The movement of plant material long distances by humans is often responsible for new introductions of exotic species. Because of this risk, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, through the USDA-sponsored CAPS Program, will be including European grapevine moth in its pest surveys this summer, using traps baited with pheromone lures.
May 13th, 2010 Sarah Ryan
insects
Are you holding an Arbor Day event, or organizing a BioBlitz or other Biodiversity Day-related event this spring or summer? Let us send you free Asian longhorned beetle id cards to hand out to the participants! Arbor Day is all about trees, so it’s a great time to get the word out about the Asian longhorned beetle. BioBlitzes are also a great opportunity to reach out to the public and raise awareness about this invasive pest. Send email requests to jennifer.forman-orth@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1735.
We also have other free handouts over at our ALB Media and Outreach Page, including the ALB Pocket Guide and a guide to ALB Look-alikes.
April 2nd, 2010 Jennifer Forman Orth
Asian longhorned beetle, insects
