Asian Longhorned Beetle
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was detected in New York City in 1996, in the Chicago metropolitan area in 1998, in Jersey City, NJ in Toronto, Ontario in 2003, and Carteret, NJ in 2004. The Carteret infestation was the largest discovered to date. Increased world trade raises the risk for exotic forest and tree pests to enter and become established in the United States. Other exotic wood boring beetles like citrus longhorned beetle and emerald ash borer have and continue to be intercepted. These and other yet undetected exotic pests threaten the health of the Nation’s forest and tree resources. The value of urban trees at risk to exotic wood boring beetles like ALB is estimated at $669 billion. More focus and resources are needed to enable pest managers to detect new infestations early and to respond rapidly in order to protect our forests and trees.
- The largest ALB infestation discovered to date was found in New Jersey in 2004 near the towns of Cartert, Rhaway and Linden. As of 2/9/05, 1,199 trees have been removed from the infested area.
- Only 67 infested trees were removed in NY, mostly in the Greenpoint area of Brooklyn. No infested trees were found in the previously infested areas in and around Amityville, Queens, Islip and Flushing Meadows in NY; Jersey City in NJ and the 5 sites around Chicago in 2005.
- Forest Service is supporting USDA APHIS eradicate ALB by providing technical and scientific support and tree replanting programs in the affected areas.
- It is estimated that eradication of Asian Longhorned Beetle could eventually cost about $365 million and take until 2009 to complete.