Earlier today (12/29/2017), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) posted an eNewsletter designed to keep everyone up-to-date with Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) eradication efforts in the US. While some BYGL readers might receive the eNewsletter directly from USDA, we wanted to make sure as many people are in the "ALB-know" as possible.
Presently, there are active eradication programs operating in three states including New York, Massachusetts and Ohio.
While information on eradication efforts in each state is valuable to follow and stay up-to-date, BYGL readers are likely to be especially interested in what is happening here in the buckeye state. The discovery of ALB in Clermont County occurred 6 1/2 years ago in June of 2011. Over 2.5 million trees have been surveyed since the initial find. 99,133 trees have been removed as part of eradication efforts including 18,972 infested trees and 80,161 high-risk hosts.
Be sure to check out the entire eNewsletter, and the ALB website too. In addition to staying up-to-date with the latest information, readers need to be sure they are familiar with ALB signs and symptoms. The more eyes looking for ALB the better. Eradication efforts have been successful and are accomplishable.
You can be a beetle-buster! Here is a go-to FactSheet with lots of photos and great information: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-75 If you ever suspect you are seeing signs or symptoms of ALB, be sure to report it to USDA, the Ohio Department of Agriculture, or using the Great Lakes Early Detection Network APP ( https://apps.bugwood.org/apps/gledn/ ).