Think Gypsy Moths are Bad? Keep An Eye out for These Bad Beetles, RIDEM Urges

RHODE ISLAND—After a awful infestation of gypsy moth caterpillars earlier this year, the threat posed by invasive species should be quite apparent to anyone who witnessed whole swaths of forests eaten bare in early, normally green, summer.

While worrying about the implications for next year after all those gypsy moth eggs were lain during the infestation, the state Department of Environmental Management is asking residents to keep an eye out for two invasive beetle species that pose a similar, if not greater threat to Rhode Island's tree canopy.

The Asian Longhorn Bettle and the Emerald Ash Borer are invasive bugs with the potential to devastate local trees. They have not been sighted in Rhode Island yet, but they were found in nearby Worcester, MA. And unlike gypsy moths, which strip leaves but don't always kill trees, the Asian Longhorn Beetle, or ALB, bores into the core of the tree and eventually kills it. It affects shade trees like maple, ash, birch, willow and elm.

The EAB affects ash trees and usually emerges between June and August.

The DEM has numerous traps across the state. They're hoping people who are exposed to many trees look for their distinctive features and habits. The ALB, for example, leave round, dime-sized holes in the bark. You might see oozing sap, dead limbs and what looks like sawdust mixed with bug waste to form what succinctly named "frass."

EAB leave behind small, d-shaped holes in the bark and squiggly lines on the underside of the bark.

If ALB or EAB is spotted or related tree damage is observed, the public is asked to capture the insect by sliding a piece of cardboard underneath it, if possible, and placing it in a jar or other container. The insects do not bite. Report the finding to DEM immediately by calling 401-222-2781 or by completing the online reporting form.

ALB is an invasive insect that came to the United States in wooden shipping crates from China and Korea about 15 years ago. 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.

Efforts to warn the public included a campaign in years past used tree tags to serve a visible notice that many trees are at risk.

The bright orange tags show pictures of both beetles and information about the tree species and what to look for.

"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."

Related/of interest: How Bad Did Caterpillars Hit RI? One Photo Says it All