WHAT: | August is a peak time of emergence for the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). The invasive pest was first discovered in the U.S. in 1996, likely arriving here unknowingly inside wood packing material from Asia. The insect has no known natural predators and it threatens recreational areas, forests, and suburban and urban shade trees. Once a tree is infested, it must be removed. It has caused tens of thousands of trees to be destroyed in New Jersey, Ohio, Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois. | |||||
Officials from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Forest Service, the Nature Conservancy and American Forests are calling on the public to take 10 minutes to check their trees for signs of the ALB. | ||||||
WHO: | Scott Pfister, Director for Pest Management, USDA APHIS | |||||
WHEN: | Monday, July 29, 2013 10:00am ET | |||||
ABOUT USDA APHIS: USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people, even as USDA implements sequestration - the across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes as little disruption as possible. | ||||||
(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130728/CL53653LOGO )
Contact:
Tom DiBacco
Broadhead + Co
202-420-0593
tdibacco@broadheadco.com
/PRNewswire -- July 28, 2013/
SOURCE USDA APHIS
