The Asian Long-horned Beetle

States have stepped up enforcement on stopping the eastward march of a destructive species, the Asian Long-horned Beetle, also refereed to as the Chinese Beetle. The beetle, first found near Detroit in 2002, has been spreading eastward, laying waste to tens of millions of trees, and spurring nervous environmental officials to set traps, educate the public, and take strict measures to try and halt its march before the beetle reaches New England.

In New York, state officials are handing out tickets to people violating the state’s ban on moving untreated camp wood more than 50 miles from its source. This regulation was imposed along with other limits on lumber companies to stem the spread of invasive pests such as the destructive emerald ash border.

With the step up of enforcement, New York is following the lead of states to the west, including Indiana, which has battled the pest now threatening New England. The imposed quarantine, also meant to thwart the Asian long-horned beetle, generally limits wood to be packaged and labeled logs that have been heated and dried to kill the bugs.

Kevin King, director of the Division of Plant Industry at the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, said that inspectors are doing spot checks of logging trucks, sometimes piggybacking on State Police truck safety enforcement.

This entry was posted by megan in Animals, Environment, To Learn and tagged asian long-horned beetle, beetle, emerald ash border, invasive species.