USDA Declares August Tree Check Month for Asian Longhorned Beetles

August is the peak time of year to spot the Asian longhorned beetle as adults emerge from trees. That’s why the U.S. Department of Agriculture is declaring August as ‘Tree Check Month.’ Checking trees for the beetle and the damage it causes is one way residents can protect their own trees and help USDA’s efforts to eliminate this beetle from the United States.

“Just this past June, we confirmed a new infestation in South Carolina after a homeowner reported that they found a dead Asian longhorned beetle on their property,” Josie Ryan, APHIS’ National Operations Manager for the ALB Eradication Program said. “We need the public’s help to find new areas where the beetle has spread, because finding it sooner means less trees will become infested.”

ALB is an invasive wood-boring beetle that attacks 12 types of hardwood trees in North America, such as maples, elms, horsechestnuts, birches and willows. In its larval stage, the insect feeds inside tree trunks and branches during the colder months.

ALB is not harmful to people or pets. If possible, residents should take pictures and capture suspicious insects in a durable container and freeze them, which helps preserve the insect for identification. Residents can report the insect or tree damage by calling the ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938 or reporting online at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.

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