Farm Progress

Beetle endangers Ohio's nursery and maple-timber industries.

November 30, 2016

2 Min Read

The discovery of trees infested by the Asian longhorned beetle in a section of the East Fork Wildlife Area in Clermont County has state agencies collaborating on an eradication effort.

The center of the infestation is within the Williamsburg Township portion of the wildlife area, south of Clover Road. Tree inspection crews will continue to survey the area and surrounding areas to determine the extent of the infestation. Using ground surveyors and specially trained tree climbers, crews will inspect host tree species susceptible to ALB for signs of the wood-boring beetle. Any trees found to be infested will be removed as part of the eradication effort.

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Once the extent of the infestation is evaluated, the Ohio Department of Agriculture will move to expand the ALB quarantine to include additional areas near the new infestation. When available, a map of the regulated areas will be posted at agri.ohio.gov.

“With more than $2.5 billion in standing maple timber and a $5 billion nursery industry that employs nearly 240,000 people, it is vital we do all we can to keep this tree-killing pest from spreading across Ohio,” says David Daniels, ODA director. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of local communities as we continue to work with our partners in this eradication effort.”

East Fork Wildlife Area consists of 2,705 acres that are managed by the ODNR Division of Wildlife for public hunting and fishing in southwestern Ohio. It is unlawful for any person to remove wood from a wildlife area without first obtaining approval.

The beetle was first discovered in Tate Township in Clermont County in June 2011. Currently, 61 square miles are regulated, which include all of Tate Township and East Fork State Park, a portion of Monroe Township, and a portion of Stonelick and Batavia townships. 

An adult ALB is a large, shiny black insect, with random white spots, measuring 1 to 1½ inches long, not including antennae. Its white-banded antennae can be as long as the body itself on females and almost twice the body length on males. 

Signs of infestation include perfectly round exit holes (about ½ to ? inch in diameter) made by adult beetles when they emerge from trees; the pockmarks on tree trunks and branches where female beetles deposit eggs; frass (wood shavings and saw dust) produced by larvae feeding and tunneling; early-fall coloration of leaves or dead branches; and running sap produced by the tree at the egg-laying sites or in response to larval tunneling. The beetle will infest various common trees in Ohio, including all species of maple, buckeye, willow and elm.

To report signs or symptoms of ALB, call the Ohio ALB Eradication Program Office at 513-381-7180 or go online to asianlonghornedbeetle.com.

Source: ODA

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