April 17, 2008
Illinois Bids Farewell To Asian Longhorned Beetles
Today's a big day for pest control: The USDA, the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the City announced today that we're the first state to eradicate the Asian longhorned beetle. Go us!
ALBs, as they're known, first appeared in Chicago about 10 years ago. The most recent infestation was in 2003, but since then, despite what the USDA calls "active surveys," no one's seen any, which means they're gone. ALBs can destroy entire trees if the infestation is severe enough, and the USDA calls them a "serious pest." Insert "little sister" jokes here.
Between 1998 and 2006, approximately 1,771 host trees were removed to destroy the invasive insect. In Illinois, ALB quarantine zones have existed in numerous Chicago neighborhoods, including Oz Park, Ravenswood, Kilbourn Park, Loyola, Park Ridge, O'Hare, Addison and Summit. As many as 35 square miles were quarantined for the pest in and around Chicago, with 61 square miles considered infested and surveyed for signs of beetles. The last chemical treatments took place in the Oz Park area in 2006.
Suck on THAT, invasive species! [USDA, APHIS, from whence the photo came]
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well done forestry department or whomever handles these things
Hooray! No more busy beetles.
why did we have to use chemical treatment and kill them? why couldn't we just trap them and release them elsewhere?
why did we have to use chemical treatment and kill them? why couldn't we just trap them and release them elsewhere?
I concur. Animal control could have enlisted the aid of a S.W.A.T. team of sharpshooters to take them down one at a time with miniature tranquilizer dart guns. But once again, they opted for the easy way out...
Well, they CLAIMED their only choice was to use chemicals and eradicate the beetles, but that's what they say EVERY time.
I once found one on the floor of my house in Edgewater.
Seriously, about 3-4 years ago in the summer.
i stomped it & flushed it, I had no intention of having my house & yard torn apart to look for them.
I think it must have fallen on my jacket while bike riding through Lakeview & stayed on until I took off my jacket in the house.
First they came for the Cougar and no body said any thing, then they came for the Asian Longhorned Beetle, who will it be next???