The City of Worcester, Massachusetts is now under order of quarantine, after an invasive pest from Asia was discovered in the area. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) feeds on hardwood trees, including maple, horse chestnut, birch, willow, poplar, and elm.
Asian longhorned beetle was recently discovered in Massachusetts.
Photo: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Forestry Archive, Bugwood.org
When a new infestation is discovered, authorities act swiftly to quarantine any wood products in the affected area, since ALB spreads quickly and destroys healthy trees. Foresters fear that ALB will make its way into hardwood forests, where it could seriously impact the maple syrup, nursery, and forest products businesses.
Massachusetts forestry officials already plan to expand the quarantine area, since additional populations of ALB have been identified since the initial discovery in Worcester. Ridding the city of Asian longhorned beetle will take five years, and include the removal of potential host trees within the quarantine area.
For Massachusetts residents only: If you think you've found Asian longhorned beetle, report it. You can call the Pest Hotline at 617-626-1779. Even better, submit a report and photos to the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project, using their online form. If you catch a live beetle, place it in a container and freeze it for later identification by an ALB expert.
More on ALB in Massachusetts:
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