Your Property May Be A Haven For Destructive Bugs
Posted on | September 22, 2009 | No Comments
The Asian Longhorned Beetle could be in Maine, or may be on its way; residents need to know the signs.
AUGUSTA, Me – BugWatchME is a watchdog group, sponsored by the Maine Department of Agriculture, whose mission is to educate Mainers about the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) and how to spot and report it.
The ALB is responsible for the destruction of over 25,000 trees in a 66-square-mile area around Worcester, Massachusetts. The infestation went undetected for years. The only way to eradicate this wood-devouring insect is to cut, chip and burn infested trees. To date, $250 million has been spent in the US on the eradication of the beetle. If ALB is not stopped, it could kill 30 percent of all trees in the country.
The beetle’s trees of choice are hardwoods, particularly maple, birch, horsechestnut, poplar, willow, elm and ash. The possible impacts to Maine’s tourism, timber and sugar maple industries alone are enormous. “Because the beetle went undetected for many years in Massachusetts, we can’t say with any real certainty that it is not in Maine. If ALB has not arrived in Maine via overseas cargo, which is how it got to New York, Chicago and Worcester, then it could arrive by infested tree material like firewood,” says Karen Coluzzi, entomologist with the Maine Department of Agriculture.
It is important to note that most new infestations of ALB have been reported by the general public. Mainers need to be on the lookout:
• Inspect firewood piles for dime-sized exit holes in the bark or tunneling through the center
• Inspect living trees for holes or signs of the black and white beetle on the exterior of the tree.
Local libraries have materials to help people identify the ALB. Residents should report any suspicious findings to the Department of Agriculture online at www.albmaine.org or call 207-287-3891.
BugWatchME will be at local fairs and civic events over the next month passing out information and answering questions. A Facebook page, BugWatchME, has also been created so people can follow related news about the group’s efforts.
If You Think You’ve Seen ALB…
Posted on | September 11, 2009 | No Comments
Maine has a native longhorned beetle that looks similar called the whitespotted sawyer. This beetle attacks conifer trees, especially those that are stressed or dying. Go here to see the difference…
Bangor Daily News Story
Posted on | September 8, 2009 | No Comments
Great article about the Bangor Survey
Bangor ALB Survey Featured on NBC
Posted on | September 8, 2009 | No Comments
Bangor Survey Results
Posted on | September 3, 2009 | No Comments
Today a group of 21 people took to the streets surrounding Hayfield Park in Bangor looking for signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. 1286 trees were surveyed. No definitive signs of the ALB were found. Trees marked as suspicious will be resurveyed by city arborists.
The Hunt is On for Invasive Beetles
Posted on | August 28, 2009 | No Comments
The Search for the Asian Longhorned Beetle Goes On
Posted on | August 28, 2009 | No Comments
Dedicated spotters continue a careful watch over Maine’s vulnerable trees.
BANGOR, ME – (August 24, 2009) On Thursday, September 3rd, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Maine Forest Service, the US Department of Agriculture and the City of Bangor will be conducting a survey of trees in Hayford Park, the city’s largest park on the west side. The group will be looking for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), the invasive insect that has been devastating trees in four states already, three in the East and one in the Midwest.
The Department is assembling teams of willing volunteers trained to look for signs of infested trees. Leading these crews will be entomologist and State Survey Coordinator, Karen Coluzzi and Bangor City Arborist, Brian Dugas. The staging area will be at Hayford Park at the intersection of Union Street and 13th Street. Volunteers will meet a little before 9 a.m. A boxed picnic lunch will be provided for participants. Anyone interested in participating should contact Karen Coluzzi at (207) 287-7551.
“We hope our search will produce negative results.” says Coluzzi. “In Bangor, we suspect an infestation could potentially come from goods originally shipped from Asia or firewood from the Massachusetts infestation.
ALB could reach Maine in wooden packing materials imported from overseas and firewood moved from infested areas. Bangor was chosen as a survey site because of its proximity to an airport and industrial sites. Signs of ALB’s presence are dime-sized holes in the tree’s bark. The adult beetles are particularly active at this time of year and may be visible on the exterior of the trees as well.
For more information, visit albmaine.org.
Portland Survey Results
Posted on | August 28, 2009 | No Comments
Thursday, August 27th, a group of approximately 25 people spread out across Deering Oaks Park in search for the Asian longhorned beetle. The result? 878 trees surveyed and no evidence of the ALB was detected.
SEARCHING FOR BUGS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES
Posted on | August 19, 2009 | No Comments
Portland, ME – (August 18, 2009) On Thursday, August 27th, from 9:00 am until noon, the Maine Department of Agriculture, the Maine Forest Service, and the City of Portland will be conducting a survey of trees in the Deering Oaks Park vicinity of Portland. The group will be looking for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), the invasive insect that has been devastating trees in four states already, three in the East and one in the Midwest.
The Department is assembling teams of willing volunteers trained to look for signs of infested trees. Leading these crews will be entomologist and State Survey Coordinator, Karen Coluzzi and Portland City Arborist, Jeff Tarling.
“Our hope is to find nothing but healthy trees,” says Coluzzi. “But, if ALB is out there, early detection is our best bet for containing the pest.”
ALB could reach Maine in wooden packing materials imported from overseas and firewood moved from infested areas. Portland was chosen as a survey site because it has an active seaport, industrial areas and is a major population center in the state. Signs of ALB’s presence are dime-sized holes in the tree’s bark. The adult beetles are particularly active at this time of year and may be visible on the exterior of the trees as well.
A similar event will take place in Bangor on September 3rd.
For more information visit albmaine.org.
Karen Coluzzi
Posted on | August 19, 2009 | No Comments
Karen Coluzzi has been with the Maine Department of Agriculture since 2003, where she works as the State Survey Coordinator for the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program. The CAPS Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), provides a mechanism for early detection of foreign plant pests and diseases that could be harmful to our agricultural and natural resources. Karen coordinates exotic pest detection surveys throughout the state and works with industry and stakeholders to raise awareness of harmful exotic pests. She received her Master of Science degree in entomology from the University of Maine in 2005.
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ALB News
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