USDA - APHIS - Plant Health, Plant Protection and Quarantine

Asian Longhorned Beetle

Chronology 2005 to Present

2008

August 26, 2008 – Delimiting surveys began in earnest in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the surrounding area.
August 20, 2008 – The first public meeting for the Worcester, Massachusetts, ALB infestation was held. Approximately 500 people attended the meeting.
August 20, 2008 - The State of Massachusetts expanded the August 8th regulated boundary to 33 square miles. Portions of the City of Worcester and the Towns of Holden, Boylston, West Boylston, and Shrewsbury are included.
August 13, 2008 - Federal, State, and City of Worcester officials held a meeting with officials from the surrounding Towns of Holden, Boylston, West Boylston, and Shrewsbury to inform them of the Asian longhorned beetle infestation and the potential impact on their communities. As a result of recent infested trees detected, the boundary established on August 8 expanded into these neighboring municipalities.
August 8, 2008 - The State of Massachusetts established a regulated boundary encompassing the area of the known infestation. 17 square miles were initially regulated within the City of Worcester and the Towns of Holden and West Boylston.
August 6, 2008 – Representatives from USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Forest Service met with Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and the City of Worcester met to discuss the initial response to the new infestation in Massachusetts.
August 1, 2008 – An ALB was reported in Deerfield, Illinois. The beetle was found on a parked car and no infested trees were immediately found. The beetle was confirmed as ALB on August 5, 2008.
August 1, 2008 – An ALB was reported by a private citizen in Worcester, Massachusetts. This is the first report of ALB in the state. Beetle was confirmed as ALB on August 5, 2008.
July 2, 2008 – Final rule, effective August 20, is published that expands the quarantined area in New York by 8 square miles, which includes Prall’s Island and an area of Staten Island. This expansion increases the total quarantined area in New York to 140 square miles.
May 19, 2008 - The delimiting survey of the Middlesex and Union Counties’ infestation was completed. This survey was started in late summer 2004 a result of ALB detection in Carteret, New Jersey. Several more surveys will be conducted to ensure eradication of the beetle from this area.
April 21, 2008 - Chemical treatments began in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey. See ALB Treatment Maps for map of treated areas.
April 17, 2008 - An Illinois Asian longhorned beetle eradication ceremony press conference was held in Chicago. The last Asian longhorned beetle detection in Chicago was in 2003. The last Asian longhorned beetle detection in Chicago was in 2003. From 1998 to 2003, 1,551 infested and 220 high-risk host trees were removed in Illinois. Restoration efforts to replace trees removed because of the beetle have resulted in the planting on 2,682 non-host trees. The Governor of the State of Illinois proclaimed April 17th Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Day. This is the first Asian longhorned beetle infested state to be declared eradicated.
April 12, 2008 – Chemical treatments started in Brooklyn, New York. This is anticipated to be the final treatment for the East River band of Brooklyn, New York. A small section east of the East River band was added to treatment this year. See ALB Treatment Maps for map of treated areas.
April 7, 2008 - The New Jersey Department of Agriculture held a press event in Jersey City to declare Hudson County, New Jersey, free of the Asian longhorned beetle. This is the first county in which the ALB was declared eradicated. The last ALB detection in Hudson County, which includes Jersey City and Hoboken, was in 2002. A total of 113 infested trees and 348 high-risk host trees were removed during the program. 433 non-host trees were replanted to replace those removed due to the beetle infestation.
March 27, 2008 - Chemical treatment applications began in Queens and Staten Island, New York. Treatment methods include basal soil injection and pressurized trunk injection. A small new section of Queens was added to the 2007 treatment area. See ALB Treatment Maps for map of treated areas.
February 23, 2008 - The final survey of Jersey City, New Jersey, was completed. All surveys were negative for signs of Asian longhorned beetle infestations.

2007

November 5, 2007 – Final rule, effective October 4, 2006, is published that expands the quarantined area in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey, by 9 square miles. This expansion increases the total quarantined area in New Jersey to 25 square miles and aligns the federal quarantine with the New Jersey quarantine.
August 23, 2007 - Asian longhorned beetles and wood samples were delivered to the Liberty Science Center for display.
August 20, 2007 – Interim rule published in the Federal Register, effective August 20, to expand the quarantined area in New York to include an additional 8 square miles, which includes Prall’s Island and an area of Staten Island. This expansion increases the total quarantined area in New York to 140 square miles.
June 7, 2007 - Members of the Asian Longhorned Beetle Cooperative Eradication Program team presented the Staten Island response plan to members of Staten Island Community Board 2 Environmental Committee during their monthly meeting.
May 29, 2007 - Chemical treatment and host tree removal began on Staten Island. 18,245 were treated and 7,370 high-risk trees were removed on the island. Removal activities were completed on August 6.
May 23, 2007 - Officials for New York City Parks and Recreation, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and APHIS PPQ presented the ALB eradication plan for Staten Island at a community board meeting for residents and environmental stakeholders within the impacted area of Staten Island.
May 11, 2007 - The State of New York quarantine for Prall’s and Staten Islands went into effect as an emergency measure. The quarantine is 8 square miles, which increased the regulated area in New York to 140 square miles. The quarantine is currently being processed at the Federal level. The infested are is approximately 137 square miles and will be increasing due to the recent detections on Prall’s Island and Staten Island.
April 20, 2007 - The final confirmation survey of Oz Park in Chicago was completed. Survey activities in the Asian longhorned beetle infested area of Illinois are now complete.
April 2, 2007 – Chemical treatment applications began in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey. Treatment methods include basal soil injection, passive trunk injection, and pressurized trunk injection. In addition, in New York, treatments began in Brooklyn along the East River and in Queens east of the 2006 treatment area. Full scale treatments started in Manhattan, New York. Treatment methods include basal soil injection, soil drench, and pressurized trunk injection. This will be the final treatment for Manhattan, New York, and Rahway, Woodbridge, and the majority of Carteret, New Jersey. See ALB Treatment Maps for map of treated areas.
March 25, 2007 - An Incident Command System (ICS) consisting of City of New York Parks and Recreation, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, US Forest Service, and USDA APHIS PPQ was formed to control the infestation on Prall’s Island, New York. ICS removal activities started on March 26 and resulted in the removal of 2,933 high-risk host trees on the island. The ICS demobilized on April 4 once all of the trees were removed. The City of New York Parks and Recreation and APHIS completed the chipping of the cut trees on April 23, which took 8 days to complete. New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets completed the final survey of the island on April 23. The equipment was moved off the island on April 25.
March 22, 2007 – An infested tree was found on Staten Island, New York, within ¼ mile of the infestation found on Prall’s Island on March 1, 2007. This was the first infested tree found in Staten Island.
March 19, 2007 – Chemical treatment application began on rooftops in Manhattan, New York, using soil drench.
March 1, 2007 - Program inspectors discovered a new Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation on Prall’s Island in Richmond County, New York. The island is located in the Arthur Kill, between Staten Island, New York, and Linden, New Jersey.
February 2007 – The Notebaert Museum finalized their Asian Longhorned Beetle display in Chicago, Illinois. This display was developed as part of their partnership contribution to the Beetle Busters program effort.

2006

December 12, 2006 - The Business Integrity Commission of the City of New York mailed a directive and informational packet concerning the movement of Asian Longhorned Beetle host wood to all licensed trade waste carters in New York City (numbering approximately 240).
October 2006 – The Covanta Energy Company, Rahway, New Jersey, received the 14th Annual Green Community Achievement Award (Business Category) at the 81st Annual New Jersey Shade Tree Federation Meeting held in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The Covanta Energy Company has greatly assisted the Asian Longhorned Beetle eradication and reforestation project in New Jersey by significantly reducing the volume of waste generated during tree removals. This has been achieved by Covanta agreeing to accept the wood chips and burn them in their facility to create electricity. Additionally, Covanta generously waived its tipping fee for this project. The waiver is estimated to have resulted in a savings of at least $60/ton for the Asian Longhorned Beetle eradication efforts. To date, over 23,000 trees have been removed, resulting in 15,000 tons of wood chips, which have been converted to 18.6 million Kilowatt-hours of electricity. This is enough electricity to supply 10,300 households for three months.
October 11, 2006 – Interim rule published in the Federal Register, effective October 4, 2006, to expand the quarantined area in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey, by 9 square miles. This expansion increases the total quarantined area in New Jersey to 25 square miles and aligns the federal quarantine with the New Jersey quarantine.
September 21, 2006 - The Asian Longhorned Beetle Program Quarterly Newsletter was reintroduced.
September 2006 – In response to the deregulation of the last quarantined area in Illinois, letters were mailed to the 71 companies with compliance agreements letting them know that the agreements were inactivated since they were no longer needed.
September 8, 2006 – Final rule, effective October 18, 2005, is published that expands the quarantined area in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey by 4 square miles, creating a 16 square mile quarantine. This final rule comes after the State of New Jersey put an even larger quarantine in place on April 13 and May 31, 2006, due to new detections. The current New Jersey State quarantine is 25 square miles. In addition, the final rule removed the 4 square miles that were quarantined in Jersey City and Hoboken.
July 19, 2006 – An interim rule, effective July 13, 2006, was published in the Federal Register announcing the deregulation of the last Illinois quarantine in response to two years of negative survey.
July 12, 2006 – The Asian Longhorned Beetle Deregulation ceremony for the Oz Park area of Chicago, Illinois, was held at Oz Park. The Plant Protection and Quarantine Associate Deputy Administrator delivered the USDA APHIS comments. Representatives from the Forest Service, Illinois Department of Agriculture, and City of Chicago also spoke.
June 28, 2006 – A public meeting was held regarding the upcoming deregulation. Only government officials were present. No opposition was voiced, and the deregulation of Oz Park will continue as scheduled.
June 19, 2006 – ALB Project Managers met with a German Agriculture Delegate in New York to discuss and share information about the United States and Germany Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations.
June 15, 2006 – The New Jersey Asian Longhorned Beetle Project hosted a visit from the ALB Project Director and Lead Scientist from the Canadian Food Inspection Service. The officials were provided a detailed overview of the New Jersey infestation and a field visit to observe chemical treatments and host removal operations.
June 14, 2006 – The New York Asian Longhorned Beetle Project hosted a visit from members of the Technical Panel on Forest Quarantine. Delegates from eight counties were represented: Canada, Chile, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy. The tour consisted of an overview of the Asian Longhorned Beetle eradication activities in the United States and a field visit to observe chemical treatment applications in Central Park. Central Park Conservancy also provided an overview of park activates.
June 5, 2006 – Asian Longhorned Beetle Strategic Plan revised to represent program status and goals as of December 2005.
May 31, 2006 – The State of New Jersey expands the quarantine in Middlesex and Union Counties to 25 square miles in response to an infested tree found in Linden in April 2006. This expansion adds a small portion of Clark Township.
May 15 & 17, 2006 – The Associate Deputy Administrator of Plant Protection and Quarantine, the Plant Protection and Quarantine Eastern Regional Director, the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture visited the New York City offices for an overview of the project and to view infested trees and treatments.
Spring 2006 – Final treatment is applied in Illinois. Middlesex/Union Counties, New Jersey, and Manhattan and the Brooklyn/Queens East River band in New York are treated. This is the final year of treatment for the current Queens section. Basal soil injection and pressurized trunk injection used program wide. See ALB Treatment Maps Archive for map of treated areas.
April 25, 2006 – Beetle Busters 2006 Kickoff took place at Chicago’s Notebaert Nature Museum. Approximately 70 teachers attended the event.
April 2006 – To date, 9,100 tons of wood chips have been delivered from the New Jersey Asian Longhorned Beetle project to the Covanta Energy Company, Rahway, New Jersey, for conversion into electrical power.
April 19, 2006 – A roundtable discussion is held with Senator Durbin, of Illinois, to review the success of the Illinois Asian Longhorned Beetle Project and the lessons to be learned from that success in preparation for the Emerald Ash Borer’s possible advance into Illinois. The meeting also included the Plant Protection and Quarantine Eastern Regional Director as well as representatives from the Forest Service and the City of Chicago.
April 13, 2006 – The State of New Jersey expands the Middlesex and Union County quarantine to 20 square miles in response to an infested tree found in northern Linden in March 2006. This expansion adds Elizabeth City and Roselle to the list of municipalities within the quarantine.
February 21, 2006 – Tree service companies, landscapers, and contractors that are under a compliance agreement start to dispose of wood from the quarantined area at no cost at the new Asian Longhorned Beetle disposal facility located at the Linden Landfill.

2005

Throughout 2005 – “Beetle Busters” program developed as grassroots outreach initiative in Illinois. Focus is on educating children in summer camps, outreach to communities through local papers and radio broadcasts, and speaking engagements within the communities by ALB project officials.
Throughout 2005 – Developed partnerships with special interest groups in New York, such as Central Park Conservancy and Trees New York, to assist in surveys of “difficult access” properties.
September 16, 2005 – Final rule regulating unmanufactured wood articles becomes effective.
October 24, 2005 – USDA announced an interim rule, effective October 18, 2005, that expands the quarantined area in Middlesex and Union Counties, New Jersey by 4 square miles creating a 16 square mile quarantine. In addition, the 4 square miles that are quarantined in Jersey City and Hoboken are removed from quarantine. The total quarantined area in New Jersey is 16 square miles.
August 9, 2005 – A final rule is published, effective April 21, 2005, to deregulate Kilbourn Park, Loyola, the Ravenswood area of Chicago, Park Ridge, and Bensenville in Illinois. The only remaining quarantine in Illinois is in Oz Park in Chicago, which is 9 square miles.
June 17, 2005 – Three ALB (2 live) are detected in Sacramento County, California, outside of a warehouse as a result of infested wood crating from China. Trace forward and canopy surveys are negative. An extensive outreach campaign is conducted and survey is scheduled for 2006.
Spring 2005 – Program begins using the Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication System (ALBES) to record treatment and survey data. Development of system began in 2002 and is ongoing.
Spring 2005 – Treatments conducted in all states. In New York, treatment is conducted in Manhattan, a portion of Queens and Brooklyn, and small area of Lindenhurst, Long Island. Most treatment is conducted using basal soil injection and pressurized trunk injection. The last treatment is applied to the Jersey City area. In Illinois, all areas except Oz Park are removed from treatment.
April 26, 2005 – An interim rule, effective April 21, 2005, is issued to remove the Illinois quarantines in Kilbourn Park, Loyola, the Ravenswood area of Chicago, Park Ridge, and Bensenville. This rule deregulates 26 square miles in Illinois.
April 19, 2005 – The final rule, effective January 24, 2005, is published, creating a 12 square mile quarantine boundary around the infested areas in Middlesex and Union Counties in New Jersey.
January 28, 2005 – An interim rule, effective January 24, 2005, is announced to add areas of Middlesex and Union Counties in New Jersey to the ALB quarantine. The quarantine, which includes the municipalities of Carteret, Rahway, Linden, and Woodbridge, is 12 square miles.
January 2005 – The infestation found in Middlesex and Union Counties is determined to be a separate introduction into the United States. To date, there are four distinct ALB infestations in North America – New York/Jersey City, NJ; Chicago, IL; Middlesex/Union Counties, NJ; and Toronto, Canada.

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