Be Alert to Sick and Dying Trees

Identify the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Asian Longhorn Beetle – by EARTH Center, Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension Office

Arborjet Methodology

Arborjet, a Massachusetts based company, has spent 5 years re-engineering a fifty year old tree-injection technology to make it suitable for 21st century environmental regulations.  While most insecticides are generally sprayed on trees or applied to the soil, the Arborjet system can be compared to an inoculation device for trees.  Medicament is injected directly into the vascular system of a tree and flows throughout its branches and leaves.  The medicament is sealed into the  tree through the use of an Arborplug, which limits impact on the environment.

Arborjet Recognized in the Mid-West

Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain - Image from brighamandwomens.org

Arborjet’s technology has quickly made a name for itself treating trees in cities like Cleveland, Chicago, and Milwaukee for Emerald Ash Borer.  Arborjet technology treats trees in Worcester and now may show up in Boston since the Asian longhorned beetle was discovered on the grounds of Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain. The hospital and surrounding area, which is in extreme close proximity to the world-renowned Arnold Arboretum, is in the process of be surveyed by the USDA.  The 10-square-mile area around Faulkner is home to around 100,000 hard woods vulnerable to ALB damage.

Save Trees While There’s Still Time

Chief Operating Officer of Arborjet, Russ Davis, hopes if needed, Arborjet can help — before it’s too late.

Upon injection, “The insecticide stays in the outer rings, which is where the tree brings its water and nutrition from the ground,” Davis explains. “Once the beetle has entered the tree, it can tunnel into the center of the tree, where it won’t be in the area that the medicament occupies. The medicament needs to be there before the beetle attacks the tree.”

Read the Full Story by Peter Howe of NECN

“Arborjet’s precision weapon against invasive beetles”

Original Date of Publish: July 13, 2010

Related Articles:
Asian Longhorned Beetle Found in Boston
Trees Injected in Efforts to Stop Beetles
Arborjet Helps the USDA fight the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Worcester, MA.- Aftermath of Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation

Female Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle, an invasive insect which forced the city of Worcester, MA to remove 27,000 trees in 2008, has now been spotted in the state’s capital, Boston. The tree-killing insect was found on six trees on the grounds of Faulkner Hospital in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. The six infested red maples were removed today at 5 a.m. from the hospital grounds, but there are no immediate plans to cut down any more trees. Teams of experts will proceed to check tens of thousands of trees in Boston and Brookline for Asian longhorned beetles.

How did it get here?

It is believed that Asian Longhorned beetles were transported to the United States from China via wood packing material. Asian longhorned beetle larvae kill hardwood trees by boring through a tree’s transport tissue which in turn, disrupts the flow of water and nutrients essential for the tree’s health.

What’s Next?

New York's Central Park was threatened by Asian Longhorned Beetle, and USDA's efforts have slowed the spread. Boston's urban landscape is now threatened by ALB.

Experts claim that Massachusetts has the most infested trees in the country and has more than $54 million appropriated in emergency funds in the event an outbreak reoccurs.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, Wendy Fox did not have a comment on what measures might be taken to combat the beetle in Boston.

What is at risk?

Faulkner Hospital is adjacent to the 265-acre Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University which was established in 1872.  Arnold Arboretum is the oldest public arboretum in North America and one of the world’s leading centers for the study of plants.

What can be done?

Arborjet manufactures tree injection equipment which the USDA provides for tree protection.  Tree injection applies chemicals directly to trees to protect them from Asian Longhorned Beetle.  After the USDA removed trees in Worcester they have begun using Arborjet equipment to protect trees.  Tree injections reduce the risks associated with soil drenching pesticides around trees.

Read the Full Story by Carolyn Johnson

WORCESTER, Mass. – Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are in Worcester today, treating trees with an insecticide intended to counter the Asian longhorned beetle.

The pesticide is expected to keep tens of thousands of hardwood trees from coming down.
The two-month treatment effort is being used on healthy trees to keep them safe from the beetle that has caused the loss of 27,000 trees in a 74-square-mile zone, including parts of Holden, Boylston, West Boylston and Shrewsbury.

More than 10,000 of the removed trees were not infested.

You can help them survey for the Asian Longhorned Beetle on conservation land around Worcester. For more information, Contact Anne at 508-795-3838 or ann@gwlt.org.

Surveying for the ALB is an important part of the eradication effort. Along with surveys, next year the USDA and city of Worcester plan to protect trees using tree injection.  See article: USDA puts beetle shots on menu

See other posts on Asian Longhorned Beetle

Dr. Phil Lewis, USDA, shows Channel 5 News how the Arborjet device injects trees to protect them from Asian Longhorned Beetle - image from Channel 5 Boston

In the spring of 2010, The USDA plans to treat thousands of trees in the Worcester area using Arborjet tree injections.  Chemicals will be injected directly into trees to protect them from Asian Longhorned Beetle.

Since August 2008, when this invasive pest was first discovered in Worcester, the USDA has worked hard to reduce the Asian Longhorned Beetle population in the area.  So far there has been signs of success, resulting from a combined effort of infested tree removals, non-infested host tree removals, quarantines, public education, and more. 

Clint McFarland of the USDA said, “We had to remove over 25,000 trees this year…very traumatic for residents, but versus the 1,000’s and 1,000’s of beetles that we were witnessing last year we have found 29 beetles this year.”

The USDA is training volunteers on how to survey for the Asian Longhorned Beetle throughout the state of Massachusetts.  Surrounding New England states are also on the lookout and beginning to educate residents. 

Flyer from the USDA

On November 15th, there was a Scientific Demonstration of Arborjet tree injection performed by APHIS research entomologist Dr. Phil Lewis. 

Today and tomorrow (Nov. 18 & 19), the USDA is testing a fall treatment strategy to help save more trees in Worcester.

 
Also, there is an Asian Longhorned Beetle Town Hall Meeting in Worcester on November 23, 2009 from 5:30 – 7:30.  It’s at the Quinsigamond Community College and it’s open to the public.

For information about the beetle and management program, you can call the Massachusetts ALB program at 1-866-702-9938.

Access these websites for more info:
www.aphis.usda.gov
www.beetlebusters.info
massnrc.org/pests/alb

Female Asian Longhorned Beetle - Image from Michael Bohne uvm.edu

Summary of News Release from the USDA:

Yet another sign of Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has been found in Massachusetts, this time in the city of West Boylston. On Oct. 13, The U.S. Department of Agricultures’ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced the discovery of 18 additional trees infested with Asian longhorned beetle. In an effort to eradicate any further outbreaks of ALB, APHIS inspectors discovered the beetles while surveying trees in the West Boylston area.

“All the trees are showing active signs of ALB infestation.  Some have the perfectly round, 3/8 inch in diameter exit holes indicating that beetles have emerged this year,” said Christine Markham, APHIS’ director of the national ALB program.

Map of the Asian Longhorned Beetle quarantined area in Worcester County.

Because of this discovery, APHIS will expand the ALB quarantine area in Massachusetts by 8 square miles.  The agency regulates the transportation of firewood, lumber, nursery stock, and tree limbs within the quarantine zone.  APHIS will continue to work with the state and municipalities to survey and prevent the spread of ALB.

A mature ALB is about 1 to 1.5 inches long, has a shiny, jet black body with distinctive white spots and long antenna banded in black and white.  The adult beetles are most evident between June and October.  As developing larvae, ALB tunnel through the heartwood of various tree species during the winter months damaging the pathways that move water and nutrients throughout the tree.  This tunneling ultimately kills the tree.

For information about the beetle and management program, you can call the Massachusetts ALB program at 1-866-702-9938.

Access these websites for more info:
www.aphis.usda.gov 
www.beetlebusters.info 
massnrc.org/pests/alb 

Read full press release
More on Asian Longhorned Beetle
Arborjet Distributors

Asian Longhorned Beetle Adult - Image from TreeHugger.com

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis is an invasive pest found in trees.  Asian Longhorned Beetle grows and reproduces in deciduous hardwood trees like maple, ash, elm, birch, poplar, and willow. ALB will eventually kill the infested host tree. The ALB was accidentally imported into the United States inside the hardwood crates and pallets from Asian countries.  The United State Department of Agriculture Forest Service is currently conducting eradication efforts in New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey. The Asian Longhorned Beetle larvae bore holes through the inside of the tree and eventually kill any infested tree.

Asian Longhorned Beetle Control

Asian Longhorned Beetle Larvae - Image from www.invasive.org by Thomas B. Denholm

The USDA Forest Service and Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) uses effective preventative treatments to control ALB along with the removal of infested trees.  APHIS researchers have found Imidacloprid to be the most effective active ingredient.  APHIS recommends Arborjet tree injection equipment in environmentally sensitive areas.  Tree injection of pesticide reduces the risks of exposure to kids, pets, and the environment so it’s the prefered method to deliver imidacloprid.

Imidacloprid Treatments for ALB

Reggie Wilson injected a tree with pesticide in Staten Island on Wednesday. About 13,000 trees, the lucky ones, are getting such treatment. - Caption from The New York Times

Imidacloprid can be drenched into the soil underneath trees, however this is creating public concern since soil applied pesticides may put children, pets, and the environment at risk.  Arborjet’s innovative tree injection methods directly inject imidacloprid into the trunk of the tree.   Tree injection seals the imidacloprid inside the tree where it systemically moves inside the tree.

What is IMA-jet?

Davey Tree Applicator using Arborjet Hydraulic Tree Injection Device for Asian Longhorned Beetle.

IMA-jet is a liquid insecticide specially formulated for tree injections.  IMA-jet contains 5% imidacloprid and a proprietary solvent system that quickly distributes imidacloprid throughout the tree.  Tree injection is the safest way to apply imidacloprid to control Asian Longhorned Beetle.

Worcester ALB page

Massachusetts NRC ALB page

Federal USDA APHIS ALB page