USDA APHIS Makes Gains Removing Asian Longhorned Beetle in New York

Media Contacts:
Rhonda Santos
Rhonda.Santos@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), together with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, is announcing that the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) quarantine on Long Island is now smaller. New York is now closer to being ALB-free.

The ALB Eradication Program recently completed its last round of tree inspections in portions of Babylon, Huntington, and Oyster Bay townships, finding no signs of the beetle. Trees are inspected many times. Not just to find any infested trees and remove them, but also to ensure that the beetle is no longer in the area.

This means the 53 square mile quarantine on Long Island, N.Y. is reduced inward by 10.1 square miles. The remaining 42.9 square miles will stay under quarantine. This includes the other parts of Babylon, Huntington, and Oyster Bay townships.

People who live in these areas can help the eradication effort by:

Reporting beetle or tree damage, by calling the eradication program at 1-866-265-0301 or by submitting an online report at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.
Allowing eradication program officials access to your property to inspect trees and to remove any infested trees that are found.
Hiring tree or landscape companies that have compliance agreements with the eradication program to ensure that woody material is disposed of properly.

ALB can be eradicated. The ALB program eradicated beetle infestations in Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; New Jersey; Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Islip in New York; and a portion of East Fork State Park, and Stonelick and Monroe townships in Ohio.

For more information about the beetle and program activities, please call the ALB toll-free hotline at 1-866-702-9938 or visit www.aphis.usda.gov/pests-diseases/alb.

APHIS protects the health of U.S. agriculture and natural resources against invasive pests and diseases, regulates genetically engineered crops, administers the Animal Welfare Act, and helps people and wildlife coexist. We also certify the health of U.S. agricultural exports and resolve phytosanitary and sanitary issues to open, expand, and maintain markets for U.S plant and animal products.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.