Trees At-Risk for Invasive Pests will be Tagged in Newport

You might see bright orange and yellow tags posted on trees in Newport parks and recreation areas in the coming weeks.

The tags are being posted by the state Department of Environmental Management as part of an outreach and education effort to raise awareness about the infestation of invasive forest plants that are threatening Rhode Island's trees.

Maple and ash trees throughout Rhode Island, including in Newport, will be tagged with signs that show images of the Asian Longhorned Beetle and the Emerald Ash Borer and provide information about the tree species, what to look for and contact information for the DEM's division of agriculture.

The selected trees aren't necessarily infested, but they are at risk because of Rhode Island's proximity to ongoing infestations in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The point of the program is to raise awareness and get people to be ready for the earliest signs of infestation, the DEM said in a release.

"Early detection of these invasive forest pests is the key to a successful eradication program in the event they infest Rhode Island," the DEM said in a release. "Rhode Island is at risk for infestation because of its proximity to infested areas. ALB has been found in Worcester, Massachusetts and EAB has been found in counties of both Western Massachusetts and Connecticut.  These insects pose a serious threat to forest ecosystems across Rhode Island."

ALB is an invasive insect that came to the United States in wooden shipping crates from China and Korea about 15 years ago.  It affects hardwood shade trees such as maple, ash, birch, willow and elm by boring into the core of the tree and eventually killing it.  This beetle has the potential of wiping out thousands of the state’s trees if it goes undetected. The ALB is large, ranging from 0.75 - 1.25 inches in length with very long black and white antennae. The body is glossy black with irregular white spots. The distinctive antennae that give the beetle its common name are as long as the body itself in females, and almost twice the body length in males.

EAB is the newest wood-boring pest to be found in the Northeast region. It was first discovered in Berkshire County, Massachusetts in August 2012. Although EAB only attacks ash trees, it can kill a mature ash in just a few years, and moves very quickly from one tree to the next, migrating across states.

Having these tree tags out at local recreational areas will inform the public of the trees at risk, who to contact if they see and suspect similar pests while outdoors, and provide a website with more information. DEM requests that residents capture the insect, if seen, so a positive identification can be made. Public awareness is an important factor in early detection, as it will be more likely that pests will be detected at the first sign of infestation if more people are aware of them.

The tree tags will remain on the trees from mid-July through the end of August, which is the time ALB adult beetles are most active. EAB adults are active from May through August, although some signs of EAB are detectable throughout the year.

For more information about ALB or EAB, please visit www.asianlonghornedbeetle.info or www.emeraldashborer.info.