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.