Press Releases

Daniel J. Parry (301) 734-3255
Beth Jones (202) 720-6959

USDA AMENDS ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE QUARANTINE AREAS

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2001--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is amending existing quarantine boundaries in New York and Illinois due to Asian longhorned beetle.

Recent surveys have revealed that infestations of ALB have occurred outside of the quarantined areas in New York City, N.Y., and DuPage and Cook counties in Illinois. This action is necessary as USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service remains vigilant in its effort to prevent the artificial spread of this destructive pest to noninfested areas of the United States.

Regulated articles include firewood (all hardwood species), green lumber, and other wood materials living, dead, cut, or fallen, including nursery stock, logs, stumps, roots, branches and debris of half an inch or more in diameter, of the following genera: maple, horse chestnut, birch, poplar, willow and elm. USDA requires that regulated articles moved outside the quarantine area meet certain conditions and be accompanied by a certificate or a limited permit issued by USDA. Extreme caution should be taken to assure unintentional transport of the beetle does not occur.

The ALB, native to China, bores into healthy hardwood trees and feeds on living tree tissue during the larval stage. Later, throughout the summer, adult beetles emerge from exit holes and briefly feed on the small twigs of host trees. ALB infestations are responsible for the destruction of a combined 7,900 trees in the New York and Illinois quarantined areas.

Tree destruction has been the only method for eradicating this beetle since its initial U.S. discovery in New York in 1996 and in Illinois in 1998. In conjunction with surveys and tree removal, APHIS officials are using the insecticide imidacloprid to decrease beetle populations and future tree loss. If a tree is found to be infested, it will be removed regardless of treatment. The goal is to identify and eradicate this destructive insect from New York and Illinois before it can establish itself elsewhere.

For more information, visit the APHIS Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov and click on the button for the Asian longhorned beetle under "Hot Issues."

This interim rule became effective on Nov. 2 and is published in the Nov. 8 Federal Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.

Consideration will be given to comments postmarked on or before Jan. 8, 2002. Please send an original and three copies of your comments to Docket No. 01-092-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737- 1238.

Comments received may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. , between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.