The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALHB), which has devastated the tree canopies in parts of New York and Chicago since the late 1990s, has now been discovered in parts of the City of Toronto and the City of Vaughan.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the City of Toronto, the City of Vaughan and other partners, are implementing an aggressive campaign to identify, control and eradicate ALHB following confirmation of its infestation in Toronto and Vaughan on September 11, 2003. This is the first confirmed infestation of ALHB attacking trees in Canada.
The area currently infested is an industrial area roughly bordered by Hwys. 407 and 400, Finch Ave. W. and Islington Ave. Richard Ubbens, City Forester for the City of Toronto urges Landscape Ontario members not to remove any tree materials (including firewood, pruned branches, grass clippings and leaves) from this area.
“The ALHB has been successfully eradicated in Chicago, but it takes a concerted effort and cooperation. I cannot stress how important it is that no plant material leave the area we have identified as infested,” explains Ubbens. The City of Toronto has suspended pick-up of yard waste in the infested area.
City of Toronto and CFIA staff are currently surveying trees in the above area to determine the exact boundary of infestation before eradication efforts begin. Ubbens says all wood will be chipped and stored in piles in a holding area. Heat builds up in the wood chip piles, which kills any larvae or insects that might have survived the chipping.
The CFIA and the City of Toronto are asking the public’s help in watching for the insect and signs of infestation. If you find a live insect, please do not remove it from the area. Call the CFIA immediately at 1-800-442-2342. Please call the CFIA at this number if you have any questions.
The ALHB is a large wood-boring beetle. It attacks many hardwood trees, including maples, birch, chestnut, elm, locust, poplar and willow. Adult beetles are 2.4 to 3.6 cm long, black with white markings. For more information about ALHB, including pictures of the insect and signs of infestation, visit the CFIA Web page at www.inspection.gc.ca. Other links can be found at www.toronto.ca/trees
