Asian Longhorned Beetle in Worcester County: What Homeowners Need to Know

In 2008, Worcester became the first place in Massachusetts where the Asian longhorned beetle was found. More than fifteen years later, the eradication effort is still running, and parts of Worcester County remain under a state and federal quarantine. If you own trees in or near Worcester, here’s what that means for you.

What the beetle does

The Asian longhorned beetle attacks maples and other hardwood trees. Its larvae tunnel through the wood, weakening branches and eventually killing the tree. According to the USDA, infested trees cannot be treated: the only way to destroy the insect is to remove the tree and chip or burn the wood.

How to spot it

The adult beetle is about the size of an almond, shiny black with white spots, with black-and-white banded antennae longer than its body. You’re more likely to see the damage than the beetle itself. The USDA lists these signs:

• Round exit holes in trunks and branches, about the size of a dime or smaller
• Oval or round egg sites chewed into the bark, sometimes weeping sap
• Sawdust-like material (frass) on the ground around the tree or in branch crotches
• Branches falling from a tree that otherwise looks healthy
• Leaves yellowing early, or leaves with chewed veins

Which towns are in the regulated area?

According to the state, the regulated area includes Worcester, Boylston, West Boylston, Shrewsbury and part of Auburn. Holden used to be in it but has been removed. Boundaries can change, so check the current map on Mass.gov if you’re near the edge.

What the quarantine means for your wood

Inside the regulated area, the rules cover more than firewood. Per the USDA, regulated material includes hardwood firewood of all kinds plus host-tree logs, stumps, roots, branches and debris half an inch or more in diameter, whether living, dead, cut or fallen. In practice:

• Don’t move firewood or tree debris out of the regulated area. Buy firewood where you’ll burn it.
• Tree companies, landscapers and firewood dealers need a compliance agreement or permit to move regulated material out of the zone. That’s one more reason to hire a crew that works in the area regularly.
• If you’re having a tree removed, ask the crew how they’ll dispose of the wood.

Think you found it? Report it

1. Take clear photos of the beetle or the damage.
2. If you can, catch the beetle in a sealed container and put it in the freezer.
3. Report it through the USDA’s online form, or call the ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938. The Massachusetts eradication program can be reached at 508-852-8090.

Don’t cut down or move the tree yourself before it’s checked: the material may be regulated.

Need a tree removed?

If a tree has to come down, whether from beetle damage, storm damage or age, we can connect you with a local Worcester-area crew. See tree removal or the tree removal cost guide.

Sources: USDA APHIS Asian longhorned beetle program; Mass.gov, Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts.