SEARCHING FOR BUGS IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

Article 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.

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