Did you know August is Tree Check Month?  August is the peak time of year for the Asian longhorned beetle (also known as the ALB) to be found in your trees!  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is asking for your help to find and eliminate the ALB, which is a harmful and invasive pest.

Heavily ALB Infested Maple Tree in Massachusetts

About the Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian longhorned beetle is easily identifiable; they have long black and white antennae, six (possibly) light blue legs and a body which is black with white spots and an inch and a half long.  Once you identify your first ALB, you might notice that they also can be found in your pool filters, on walls, outdoor furniture, cars and sidewalks.

While these beetles are slow to spreading on their own during the early stages of an infestation, containing the infestation is critical.  The most common way to spread an ALB infestation is through moving fireword (which we urge the Westchester community not to do).

Reporting the Asian Longhorned Beetle

What to do if you see signs of the ALB (via USDA):

• Make note of what you found, where you saw it and take a photo, if possible.
• Try to place the beetle in a container and freeze it for easy identification by the USDA.
• Report findings by calling 1-866-702-9938