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ALB Public Info Talk Questions
What is the status of Dodge Park? Where is it located and what’s going on with removals and treatments there?
There have been some tree removals in Dodge Park. Recently, 93 more infested trees were discovered that will require removal. The City of Worcester has decided, additionally, to remove all host trees. The park will then be re-vamped with improved walkways, benches and poison ivy removal. An improvement plan is in the works but not yet finalized. The draft was presented at a public meeting held on May 2, 2011.
Can a regulated area shrink? I.e. can part of a regulated area become deregulated sooner than other parts? When surveying, if they find another newly infested tree does it start the timeline to declaring eradication over again?
- As negative confirmation surveys are completed, areas are evaluated for their potential to be deregulated and declared eradicated of ALB based on the success of survey and treatment activities, as well as the proximity to other infested areas.
- As far as protocol if another infested tree is found in relation to declaring an area eradicated, implementation of eradication strategies follow emergency response guidelines that specify the protocols for survey, control, and regulatory activities for areas with ALB infested trees. The guidelines are adjusted for each specific site, taking into consideration local environmental conditions, host status and dynamics, pest population dynamics, and epidemiological considerations.
- You can learn more about ALB Response Guidelines online at:http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/downloads/alb_response_guidelines.pdf
What’s attacking pine trees (not hemlock woolly adelgid)?
- In Massachusetts we do sometimes see problems associated with the Eastern Pineshoot Borer; more information can be found at: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/eps_borer/eps_borer.htm However, there are many insects and pathogens (and environmental conditions) that negatively impact pine. If you are concerned about pines on your property, we recommend you consult a licensed tree care professional. If you are concerned with public land, you can contact your local tree warden.
Is Hemlock Woolly Adelgid regulated? Why is ALB regulated, vs. other invasives which are not?
- The federal government regulates some invasives while others are dealt with at the state level. Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) is not FEDERALLY regulated, but is regulated by some states (i.e. a nursery shipping a tree or lumber co. shipping logs would have to get a certificate verifying freedom from HWA to get in to some states). In Massachusetts, licensed nurseries that sell hemlock must be HWA-free. But HWA is not regulated within the state because it was already too wide spread before we knew the extent of the invasion, and was determined not to be eradicable.
- Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is federally and state regulated, because it is a destructive, non-native wood-boring pest of maple and other hardwoods. The potential for economic, social, and environmental effects if this wood-boring pest was to become widespread in the United States is extensive. Several industries would feel the impact including timber, maple syrup, tree nurseries, greenhouses, and tourism. Since 1996, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), together with State and City cooperators, and the USDA’s Forest Service have undertaken eradication activities by imposing regulated boundaries, conducting survey and control activities around confirmed sites, removing infested trees, and planting trees to restore areas where trees were removed. It is believed that eradication IS possible, since ALB has a very long life cycle and, on its own, is slow to spread. Public education is key to eradication. You can learn more online at: www.BeetleBusters.info
Are birds affected by imidacloprid?
- As with mammals, it has been found that a bird would need to ingest many times its normal diet of food containing imidacloprid in order to feel any negative effects. In fact, a bird would need to consume 55 times its normal diet at one time before ingesting a problematic dose. Bees and worms are also not affected at the population level.
Was imidacloprid used in the Illinois eradication and how much of a role did it play?
- Yes, imidacloprid was used in the Illinois ALB eradication program; in fact, this was the first time it was used for this purpose, and the results were positive enough that treatments have been used in subsequent eradication efforts in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
- Information about the Illinois control treatments can be found on page 29 of the following document: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/misc/albsuccess/alb_success.pdf
More information about ALB treatment applications may be found at:
Questions and Answers: Asian Longhorned Beetle Control Treatments:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/faq_albcon.pdf
Questions and Answers: Asian Longhorned Beetle Insecticide Use and Bees:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/content/printable_version/faq_albbee_ppq.pdf
What exactly do the beetles eat, especially when they chew through the heartwood? Are they excreting the cellulose? Are larvae eating the heartwood or just overwintering there in a dormant state?
- ALB larva initially feed on the tree’s living tissue directly beneath the bark, then as it matures, the larva moves deep into the tree and feeds on the woody tissue. Adult beetles will feed on leaves and small twigs.
- ALB uses its gut bacteria to digest woody material; in fact this inspired a University of Pennsylvania study on the possibility of using gut flora to create ethanol! ALB will eat all parts of the tree, including the heartwood, and are digesting the lignin.
- Larvae do slow down in the winter, though they do not go dormant or “hibernate”.
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