I recently decided to go for a walk on a seasonably warm afternoon. I got out of my car at a wooded recreation area and immediately noticed how much cooler the air felt, thanks to the biggest plants on Earth – trees. From my years growing up on and then managing my family’s organic walnut farm I have a deep respect for trees. They provide countless benefits to us and the planet. They provide food and shelter, they cool and improve air quality, so it’s important to me to protect this valuable resource from invasive pests and diseases.
As August winds down, I will remind you that it is Tree Check Month for the Asian longhorned beetle. This invasive beetle attacks 12 different types of trees but prefers maples. It can also be found in grass, floating in pools, on outdoor furniture, and on vehicles. Once the beetle attacks a tree, there is no cure, and the tree will eventually die. USDA can eradicate it, but we need to know where infested trees are ASAP! When we find infested trees early enough, more trees are saved. We need people looking at their trees to improve our chances of finding this invader early.
Please check your trees. Join friends and family on a tree check walk to look for signs of infestation. If you think you have found a beetle or see tree damage, please report your sightings by calling the hotline at 1-866-702-9938 or submit a report online at AsianLonghornedBeetle.com.
