While keeping an eye out for Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) this season, be aware of the several harmless native lookalike species you may encounter. For example, the northeastern sawyer (Monochamus notatus) strongly resembles the whitespotted pine sawyer and thus is similar to ALB. The northeastern sawyer is our largest native longhorn beetle, about as large […]
Did you know that this August has been officially recognized by the US Department of Agriculture as Tree Check Month? Insects like Asian longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer currently threaten hardwood forests in Massachusetts, and Tree Check Month is the perfect time to check your trees for signs of damage. Take ten minutes of […]
Lately we have been receiving reports through our Asian longhorned beetle reporting system of another Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) lookalike, the brown prionid (Orthosoma brunneum). Though it is also a species of longhorned beetle, the brown prionid is a native species, and can be distinguished by its overall brown color and its lack of patterns on […]
It’s July, which means adult Asian Longhorned Beetle (“ALB”) (Anaplophora glabripennis) have emerged from their trees and are now active! Adult ALBs can be identified by the speckled patterns on their shiny wings and their long black-and-white banded antennae. Adults will be active from now through November, or whenever the first hard frost hits, so […]
Our program has recently acquired some new items to educate the public about Asian Longhorned Beetle! We now have these ALB erasers. They have a fun ALB image and message and will serve as a reminder to check your trees for signs of beetle damage throughout the summer. They’re also perfect for summer camps or […]
It’s that time of year again! Every spring, when outside temperatures start to heat up, we get reports from people concerned that they’ve see the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB). Luckily, ALB won’t emerge from the trees until July. If you’re seeing big black beetles with long, long antennae in May and early June, they […]
What looks like an Asian Longhorned Beetle, but doesn’t threaten our trees and natural resources? The BeetleBot! This terrifying machination resembles the invasive insect currently located in central Massachusetts. The real beetle targets hardwood trees, especially maples, but this robotic replica’s only goal is to educate and entertain. It was featured at the It’s A […]
Though it’s cold outside now, the spring camping season is rapidly approaching! While many campers like to bring their own firewood to campsites, the invasive wood-boring insects Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer make frequent use of firewood to transport themselves to new infestation sites. Worcester has already lost 36,000 trees to date due […]
Are you a 5th grade teacher or a 5th grade student with a passion for art or nature? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you! The Department of Conservation and Recreation has announced its 2017 Arbor Day Poster Contest, a chance to win cool prizes for your school by showing off your artistic talent […]
Once again in 2016 August was officially declared Forest Pest Awareness month by the governor as part of an effort to raise awareness about invasive insects such as Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer. Over the course of August, much was done to increase the public’s awareness of these introduced pests. Due to the […]