Residents can help prevent beetle invasion
There’s a killer on the loose in Fairfax County and residents can help catch it.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is an invasive species that attacks and kills many kings of shade trees, including its favorite, the maple.
Staff of the county’s Urban Forest Management Division asks residents to keep an eye out for this insect in their yards and parks.
All infestations of the Asian Longhorned Beetle have been found by residents who have reported their findings to state or county agencies.
The insects make large, almost dime-sized holes in tree trunks or branches. A pencil fits in these holes about inch deep. There may be broken branches with large tunnels on the inside of the wood. The beetles often squeak when startled.
Residents should check pool filters for large, black-and-white spotted insects, as these beetles do not fly well and may drown in swimming pools.
If you find an Asian Longhorned Beetle anywhere in Fairfax County, take some picture and send them to [email protected] or call the Urban Forester of the Day at 703-324-1770.
If you are able to capture the insect, place it in a jar or plastic bag and put it in the freezer.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Asian Longhorned Beetle “has the potential to cause more damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight, and gypsy moths combined, destroying millions of acres of America’s treasured hardwoods, including national forests and backyard trees.”
The biggest infestations are in New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio, but all states are at risk.
Oops, two years ago I witnessed a group of these hatch out of the yard. I had no idea that they were invasive so I left them alone. I'll keep an eye out for them this time around. Thanks for sharing!