Email I received from CNLA ( Canada nursery and landscape assoc.)
" PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 12, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
ASIAN LONG HORNED BEETLE FOUND IN NORTHERN TORONTO
Today, the CFIA informed the CNLA that Asian Long Horned Beetle (ALHB) has been identified in an area on the border of the City of Toronto and the City of Vaughan. A plan of action was developed two years ago based on the issue in the US and the CFIA has had a number of “dry-runs” giving them a decided head start on the current surveys which are in full swing at this time. The current infested zone is approximately 5 square miles in a light industrial area.
This insect pest has the potential to cause severe damage to Canadian deciduous trees (maples, poplars, sycamore, elm, apple, willow, cherry a more detailed list is below), in forested and urban settings. It has created intensive inspections over the past few years on all dunnage, pallets, crating or other packaging materials made from non-manufactured wood products originating in China and HKSAR with Canada intercepting a number of ALHBs. This pest has caused a lot of damage in the USA forcing thousands of trees to be destroyed. Efforts are being made to find a systemic product that would work. Communication with the USDA has the department offering whatever help and expertise that they have available to Canada. Visit the USDA web site
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/alb/index.html for more detailed information.
There is no known chemical control or natural predator. The only sure method of control is removal and destruction of the infected trees through chipping and burying or burning. Permission for removal of those trees in the find zone is being obtained at the time of this writing and an educational process is being developed to inform the public of what to watch out for. Both Cities will be included in the development.
The following list is based on US surveys and is grouped from most preferred (A) to least preferred (C):
· GROUP A: All species of Acer (maples) including Norway, sugar, silve, Manitoba (boxelder), and sycamore maples. Horse chesnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), Burches (Betula) particularly gray birch (Betula populifolia).
· GROUP B: Poplars (Populus spp), elms (Ulmus spp), willows (Salix spp), alders (Alnus spp), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), Prunus spp., Pyrus spp., Malus spp., ashes (Fraxinus), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), Hibiscus spp.
· GROUP C: Consists of specis, which may be attackd when in close proximity to an infested hsot but are not thought to serve as hosts. Carya spp., Quercus spp., Albizzia spp., Juglans spp., Gleditsia spp. (Honey locust).
SIGNS OF INFESTATION
Visit the USDA web
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/ep/alb/index.html site for detailed information, photos and descriptions, life stages and biology as well as CFIA web site
www.cfia.inspection.gc.ca. "