Immediate Release
November 14, 2011
Batavia, Ohio. Keith Scott stood on his driveway and watched work crews remove two large maple trees from his yard at the intersection of Swings Corner-Point Isabel Road and Schaller Road in Tate Township. The trees, infested by the Asian Longhorn Beetle (ALB), were among the first to be removed from the Clermont County community hard hit by the destructive bug. “It is hard to watch the 45-foot trees come down, but I understand that it is the only way to stop this beetle from spreading,” said Scott, who has another maple and an ash tree in his yard also marked for cutting.
“I’ve had all summer for the realization to set in,” said Agnes Guy from the front porch of her Tate Township home. “My late husband planted all 13 of the maple trees they are taking down in my yard. They’re all infested with that beetle. It’s sad to watch.”
“We have over 5,000 ALB infested trees confirmed in Clermont County,” said ALB Program National Director with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture Christine Markham. “We hope to remove over 80 trees from the vicinity around Schaller Road this week; we are working with homeowners to address special needs or concerns about this step of the ALB eradication process.” Markham said that it can be hard to detect an early ALB infestation, because damage occurs in the upper third canopy of the tree. “It could take several years before we are able to totally eradicate the ALB from Clermont County,” she added. “We are conducting surveys to determine the environmental impact of removing host trees up to a ¼ mile radius from those infested.”
To report suspected ALB infestation, call 1-855-252-6450 or visit the website www.BeetleBusters.info.
Pictured above: Keith Scott of Tate Township watches as a 45-foot maple tree, infested with the Asian Longhorn Beetle, is removed from his yard at the corner of Schaller and Point Isabel-Swings Corner Roads in Tate Township.
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathy Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@ clermontcountyohio.gov.