Asian Longhorned Beetle Alert

It was recently reported that the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) has been spotted in Massachusetts.

Male ALB

The reproductive cycle of this particular beetle can be very destructive to local tree populations as the larvae attack the inner heartwood of the tree, feeding on it until full hatched, and then leaving the tree through dime-sized burrowed holes.  The ALB is also devastating for the wide variety of trees that it attacks, including maple, birch, ash, elm, willow, and sycamore, and others—many of which are planted on the Greenway.  The Greenway Conservancy horticultural staff is learning as much as they can and closely watching this breaking news so we can protect the public asset of 1,500+ young trees on the Greenway.

Female ALB

To prevent further spread of ALB, please refer to the Massachusetts Introduced Pest Outreach Project for information about local ALB eradication efforts, read the USDA guidelines, and be sure to report any sightings to the USDA.