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Tree-devouring beetles discovered across street from Arnold Arboretum

Map shows the 1.5-mile radius around Faulkner Hospital in which crews will check for beetle infestation - and area in which residents, businesses now banned from removing wood to other locations.

Photo by Jennifer Forman OrthPhoto by Jenn Forman Orth.State officials are convening a press conference at 11 AM today to discuss the discovery of Asian Longhorn Beetles at the Faulkner Hospital grounds, just mere steps from the Arnold Arboretum.

Six trees showed signs of the telltale beetle bored holes in their trunks and USDA officials confirmed the sightings this weekend. It's unknown what measures are going to need to be taken, but due to the proximity, I worry for the Arboretum.

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http://massnrc.org/pests/alb/

This is a link to report sightings. Also has pics of "lookalike" beetles to help distinguish if a suspect beetle (such as the one I saw in my yard this weekend) is the evil one or not (whew, the one I saw wasn't as....horny).

There's also a hotline phone number, but it might be inundated given the news coverage.

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And not just for the Arboretum. Think of all the trees along the VFW Parkway - and all the trees in people's yards in what is one of the leafier parts of the city.

I'm typing this on our rear porch, looking out at trees that have been growing just beyond our backyard for decades. I'd hate to think of them all having to be cut down, which could happen, if the city/state/feds recreate Worcester, where 27,000 trees were chopped down.

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What I read at WBZ is that these 6 trees all came from the same nursery...but when? How long could they have been in place for the beetles to have seeded the area? If these are brand new trees, maybe containment could be just strict monitoring in the area and removal of a much more limited number than what they've needed to do to try and contain in the Worcester area.

That's my hope at this point, because you are absolutely correct. I shudder to think about the consequences if we go full bore (pun sadly sorta intended) around here.

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Yes, any suspicious beetles or tree damage should be reported (http://massnrc.org/pests/alb or 1-866-702-9938), particularly in the Boston/Brookline/Newton area. Capture and freeze any specimens (or place in a jar with rubbing alcohol) if you can, but a picture is worth a thousand words here - photos will rapidly speed up the identification process!

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That sucks so bad. Several years back the Arboretum had some sort of an infestation of trees on that evergreen hilltop area; I thought that had been Asian longhorned beetles, but if not, does anyone remember what they were?

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Hemlock hill infestation page at the Arboretum's website.

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Thanks, that's the one!

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This is definitely a concern for city-dwelling shade lovers, but it is much more than that for others. I was at a maple sugaring farm in Williamstown recently, where these damned beetles could spell the end of a way of life for those folks (apparently, these beetles particularly like maples). That goes for all the maple sugaring operations in Vermont and beyond, too (the VT Dept. of Agriculture has launched a wide-ranging education effort). Yet another toxic import from Asia, and yet another reason why I do not understand why people complain when CBP takes away things people are not supposed to be bringing into the U.S.

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FYI: There are very real economic costs to city-dwelling shade lovers. No trees means higher energy costs due to fewer windbreaks, less shade, etc.

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*rimshot*

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Good one!

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Early this morning, state officials say.

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NOT MORE MULCH!!!

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Please read the contents of this link: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2011/04/go...

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