Rhode Island Tree Council Announces Dates for Asian Longhorned Beetle Survey Trainings

Rhode Island’s trees need your help!  Last August, the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was found in Worcester, Massachusetts, less than thirty miles from Rhode Island. This invasive pest is responsible for the devastation of over 25,000 of Worcester’s city and residential trees. Through a cooperative effort with USDA and Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), the RI Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) is coordinating a comprehensive outreach & detection program for the Asian Longhorned Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer, both highly detrimental invasive pests. RIDEM has partnered with the Rhode Island Tree Council to implement this program. Both RIDEM and the RI Tree Council will be conducting outreach and surveillance activities in August, during the peak time of the adult emergence of the Asian Longhorned Beetle, and need your help in the effort to keep Rhode Island ALB free!

The Asian Longhorned Beetle came to the United States in wood shipping crates from China and Korea over ten years ago and has wreaked havoc in New York, New Jersey, and Chicago. This beetle has the potential to wipe out millions of Rhode Island trees if it goes undetected. History has shown that public education is key to detection of this destructive pest.

RIDEM and the RI Tree Council are hosting sessions to provide information on the signs and symptoms of injury of these insects to increase awareness to you and the general public. In addition, we are also seeking volunteers to assist us in the survey activities planned during the month of August.

The upcoming dates of the training sessions are as follows:
9:30am-12pm, Thursday, July 16th at George Washington Management Area in Chepachet
9:30am-12pm, Friday, July 17th at The Warwick Public Library, small conference room
9:30am-12pm, Saturday, July 18th at Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, 399 Fruit Hill Ave., N. Providence
6pm-8:30pm, Monday, July 20th at The Warwick Public Library, large conference room

Surveys for beetles will be held in Warwick and Cranston in August, dates to be announced.

If you are interested in the trainings or surveys or you have any questions or need additional information visit www.ritree.org or contact the RI Tree Council’s ALB coordinator, Kate Sayles, at 401-764-5885 or albfreeri[at]gmail.com (make the usual substitution of [at] for @).