Governor Rell: Non-Native Asian Longhorned Beetle

Has Potential to Devastate State Forests

Governor Urges Heightened Awareness to Prevent Infestation,

Cautions Against Transporting Firewood When Camping

            Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that she has designated August as “Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month” to make citizens and visitors aware of the serious threat the non-native beetle poses to thousands of acres of Connecticut forests, particularly those with stands of maples, birches, elms and willows.

 “The Asian Longhorned Beetle has no natural enemies and there is no effective insecticide to control it. Once a tree is attacked by the beetle, the only remedy is to cut it down. It has the potential for more damage than infestations by gypsy moths, Dutch elm disease and the chestnut blight combined,” Governor Rell said during a visit today to Mattatuck State Forest. “It has already been discovered in neighboring states so we must all be extremely vigilant and take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of an infestation. We risk losing one of our most precious and beautiful resources if this destructive insect takes hold.”

The Governor said about 60 percent of Connecticut is covered in forests, approximately 1.8 million acres. The 107 state parks and 32 state forests are popular recreation destinations and the half-billion-dollar forest products industry, including lumber and maple syrup, generate thousands of jobs.

The beetle arrived in the U.S. from China and Korea in wood shipping pallets and other packaging material. It was first detected in the New York City area in 1996 and has since been discovered in Chicago, New Jersey and more recently in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Governor said the Worcester infestation, which destroyed 24,000 trees, has been the worst in the nation. The beetle has not yet been discovered in Connecticut.

“Prevention is the key to keeping our forests and trees safe and that is why I have declared August as Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month,” Governor Rell said.   “A key message is `don’t move firewood.’  That can spread the beetle infestation. Don’t bring firewood from other states into Connecticut. If you are headed to a campground or cabin buy and burn all your firewood there. Do not carry it back home.”

The Governor urged all citizens to be on the lookout for the beetle in their yards and when out in forests and parks and contact the DEP immediately if anyone suspects they may have seen the beetle. It is described as a large black beetle with white spots, it ranges between an inch to 1 ¼ inches long. Adults can be seen from late spring to fall.

The Governor has also directed the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to work with the business community to stress the importance of enforcing standards for the importation of goods. 

“We must be sure unprocessed raw wood is not being used for packing material and pallets used in shipping,” the Governor said.  “There are new international standards regarding this practice and they need to be enforced to prevent the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle.”

For more information on the Asian Longhorned Beetle:

Department of Environmental Protection:

www.ct.gov/dep/forestry

Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station:

https://www.ct.gov/caes/cwp/view.asp?a=2829&q=378210

U.S. Department of Agriculture

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/index.shtml

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