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 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 […]
It’s that time of year again: winter moths and other related species have started to show up at porch lights across the state. The winter moth (Operophtera brumata) is an invasive species first discovered in Massachusetts in the 1990s. Winter moth caterpillars are highly efficient tree defoliators, often stripping the leaves of oaks, maples and […]
With the recent detection of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis, “EAB”) in three new municipalities (Boxford, Newton and Wilbraham), the total number of Massachusetts counties impacted by this pest has now risen to six (see Table 1). Emerald ash borer, an invasive wood-boring pest that threatens our forests and urban landscapes, was first discovered in […]
August is Forest Pest Awareness Month in Massachusetts, a state-appointed time to focus on Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) (Anoplophora glabripennis) and other invasive insects. ALB is a species of great concern because it attacks and destroys a wide range of native hardwood trees, including maple. Human efforts remain the best methods to detect the presence of […]
Just a reminder: Here in Massachusetts, the bugs may be flying, but Asian Longhorned Beetle 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 are almost certainly the native look-alikes knows as Whitespotted Pine Sawyers. Read more in this blog post […]
With Arbor Day only a month away, it’s time to think about planning how we can celebrate trees and their ability to provide our neighborhoods with clean air, shaded streets, and aesthetic value. This year, why not consider joining our Arbor Day ash tree tagging project! Spearheaded by the Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), […]
The results are in… Massachusetts Wasp Watchers had a record season in 2015! The smoky-winged beetle bandit (Cerceris fumipennis) is a native, non-stinging wasp species that feeds its young by catching Buprestid beetles, including the most infamous: emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Cerceris wasps are an important early detection tool that can assist in slowing the spread of emerald […]
In early January, the Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) partnered with the Massachusetts Forest Pest Task Force to hold an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Preparedness Forum at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, MA. The event had a great turnout, with over 65 participants from more than 30 communities across Massachusetts in attendance. This […]
As you may have read in the news last week, state officials from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) recently confirmed the presence of Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis, “EAB”) in the city of Worcester, MA. EAB is a small, metallic green beetle, native to Asia, which feeds on ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) and […]