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www.arborage.com Arbor Age / July 2014 31 All images courtesy of USDA APHIS risk as the beetle may have been unknowingly moved inside tree debris or fi rewood — thus starting an infestation in a new area. These states are more likely to be impacted by ALB because and ALB infestation is already so close. The beetle has been detected in fi ve U.S. states — New York (1996), Illinois (1998), New Jersey (2002), Massachusetts (2008), and Ohio (2011). ALB was successfully eradicated from Illinois in 2008, from New Jersey in 2013, from the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island in 2013, and now from the area within Boston. Surveying or inspecting trees means looking at the host trees the beetle attacks for the beetle itself or signs of damage caused by it. The most concerning signs are dime-sized exit holes, roughly 1/4 inch or larger and perfectly round. Look also for round or oval shallow scars in the bark where the fe- males chew oviposition (egg-laying) sites. What is most striking about these sites is that on their outer edges, you can usually see the insect's mandible chew marks on the bark. Look also for frass or sawdust-like material (beetle excrement) on the ground at the base of the tree or at the crotches of branches. Dead branches or canopy dieback can indicate something is wrong. Finally, look for the beetle itself on the tree trunk, branches, on the ground, and on nearby surfaces. Although the beetle may look menacing, it is harmless to people. The ALB is generally 1 to 1.5 inches in length, has six legs, and a shiny, jet-black body with random white spots. The most important thing you can do is to check trees regularly for signs of the beetle and encourage homeowners to do so as well. Early detection is crucial. It can mean the difference between the six infested trees lost in Boston verses the situation in Worcester County, Mass., where an infestation went undetected for at least a decade, and after the last 5 years of eradication efforts the infestation has resulted in the loss of nearly 34,000 trees and has impacted countless residents. If you can only check trees once a year, then the best time of year to do this is in the month of August, as that is when the number of beetles will peak and you are most likely to see an adult insect, as well as seeing the damage it causes on the tree itself. USDA recognizes the month of August as "Tree Check Month" by undertaking strategies to raise awareness about the pest and encourage the public to report any suspicions. The best line of defense against the insect is people who take the time to check their trees for the beetle and any signs of dam- age it causes, even if you only have 10 minutes to spare. The Tree Check Month campaign, which runs during the summer months, asks people to help save trees by: • Conducting an annual tree check • Reporting beetles or signs of damage • Allowing offi cials access to survey trees • Purchasing fi rewood where it will be burned • Diversify the tree plantings While the eradications of ALB are a victory for all of us, we all still need to stay vigilant and inspect trees regularly for signs of infestation, especially since trees in all states are at risk. One great resource for arborists is a photo-rich publication titled "Asian Longhorned Beetle and its Host Trees," which was published by the USDA's U.S. Forest Service (http://na.fs.fed. us/pubs/alb/alb-and-host-trees-09-12-2012-screen.pdf). It shows the host trees, as well as damage caused by the insect. The sooner an infestation is reported, the sooner efforts can be made to quickly contain and isolate an area from future destruction. ALB eradication programs are coopera- tive programs and APHIS works with several different fed- eral agencies, as well as different partnering organizations in each affected state. For more information or to report, please visit the APHIS website for Asian Longhorned Beetle or www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com, or call 866-702-9938 to be forwarded to your state plant health director's offi ce. Rhonda Santos is public information offi cer, USDA APHIS Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program.