Over 60 participants took part in this training program in Bethel, OH, on Friday, March 17, 2017. The educational program combined classroom-style teaching with hands on field training to arm Green Industry professionals with the ability to effectively detect and properly report ALB infestations.
The classroom portion of the program was held at the East Fork State Park Office and the hands-on field training was held in a woodlot behind the Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program. Participants were able to view trees infested with ALB and learn first-hand from Eradication Program ground surveyors and tree climbers how to detect ALB infestations. They also learned that detection can be challenging!
The training program was a joint educational event planned and delivered by OSU Extension, Hamilton County; OSU Extension, Clermont County; the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA APHIS PPQ), and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). The USDA APHIS PPQ and ODA are joint partners in the Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program.
Why is it Important to Detect and Report ALB?
ALB is a non-native tree killer. The beetles have a strong preference for maples (Acer spp.); however, they can also infest and kill trees belonging to 12 taxonomic genera. This is why it is so important to eradicate this beetle from North America. ALB has been eradicated in some locations, but early detection is essential to the success of eradication programs in terms of time and money.
The successful work being accomplished by the Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program means that although our Ohio infestation remains a very serious concern, ALB is far more likely to pop-up elsewhere because of undetected infestations rather than spreading from the current known infestation. We hope participants put their training to work by reporting any suspicious beetles and tree boring activity.
Four Ways to Report Suspicious Beetles and Tree Boring Activity:
1. Call the Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program: 513-381-7180
2. Call the USDA APHIS national program: 1-866-702-9938
3. Report online at this website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/asian-longhorn...
4. Visit the Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program office: 3079 Angel Drive, Bethel, OH 45106-9523
For more information on Asian Longhorned Beetle, please see our OSU Fact Sheet: Click Here