Washington, DC (August) - Trees are vital to our communities. They impact our quality of life and provide shade, beauty and privacy; however, a harmful and invasive insect called the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is killing hardwood trees in cities in several states. August is National ALB Awareness Month and Federal and State agencies are asking communities to help protect trees and forests by actively checking for and reporting signs of this devastating beetle.
The ALB is about an inch long and has a shiny black body with white spots and long black and white striped antennas. It's easy to spot, as is its destruction. The ALB larvae bore perfectly round, dime-sized holes in hardwood trees, including all species of maple ash, elm, horse chestnut, poplar and willow. Infested trees are starved of critical water and nutrients and will ultimately die.
First discovered in New York in 1996, ALB infestations have been detected in cities and counties in ...
