Trees surveyed for destructive bug

 Volunteers gather in Springfield on Monday to search local trees for evidence of the Asian Longhorn Beetle. The pest was found in Worcester in August 2008 and could have a profound impact on local trees and ecosystems.

Jennifer Forman Orth from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has seen first hand the destructive nature of the Asian Longhorn Beetle. She provided volunteers with a brief training before the inspection for the invasive species began.

“The Asian Longhorn Beetle is about ¾” to 1 1/5” long. It has a shiny black body with bright white spots. And it’s antenna are so long that they are as long, or longer, than the body,” she explained.

Click here for some images of Asian Longhorn Beetle.

The Worcester area lost approximately 25,000 trees to Asian Longhorn Beetle infestations according to Jennifer Forman Orth. Infected trees must be removed and destroyed. Without such policy, surrounding trees can become hosts to the beetle and prompt its spread.

The Asian Longhorn Beetle causes significant damage by tunneling through and eventually killing many typed of hardwood trees native to Massachusetts including: ash, maple, horsechestnut, birch, plant-tree poplar, willow, and elm. A list of vulnerable trees is located on the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project website .

The beetles are not usually active in November, so residents should look for exit holes in trees. They are approximately the size of a dime. Wood shavings the consistency of sawdust may be located on the ground.

“When you’re doing a tree survey you really want t o look at the top branches […] These guys attack from the top down. So use your binoculars to look as high up as you can,” said Sarah Ryan, also with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

If you see a possible Asian Longhorn Beetle, please place it in a container or bag and report it by calling 617-626-1779 or filling out an online form .