Beetles invade America; this time, no ‘Ed Sullivan Show’

In this summer of untimely deaths, too much rain and fast-spreading tomato blight, the state of Connecticut would like to remind you that area trees are at risk as well. Gov. M. Jodi Rell has dedicated the month of August to the Asian longhorned beetle, and is sending tree inspectors around the state looking for signs of the bug, which kills trees and spreads fast.

One such inspector is Sharon native David Waugh, who owns a tree management business in Torrington called DPM Tree Service.

The beetle came over to America on wooden palettes carrying products from China, Waugh said. For that reason, inspections are usually done first at industrial sites that might have received these palettes. He did a survey last week of sites in Torrington and found no signs yet of the beetle.

That’s good news. Because once the beetle has settled in, there’s no way to treat trees to free them of the infestation. The whole tree has to be cut down, and ground up into sawdust.

The life-cycle of the beetle is one year. They hatch at the end of July and begin eating away at trees (their favorite: Norwegian maples), which means that if they’re going to be seen and eliminated, this is the time of year to do it.

Most beetles are found by regular citizens, not foresters or inspectors, Waugh said, and he encouraged Tri-state residents to keep an eye out for the telltale signs of beetle infestation. These include dime-sized holes that have been bored into the tree trunk; sawdust and sap in the crooks of branches; and rusty brown patches that indicate egg niches.

The beetles themselves have a distinctive spotty pattern on their backs and legs and on their unusually long “horns.�

“Sometimes you’ll see them on your car windshield, or in a pond or swimming pool in your yard.�

The beetles are most likely to move in on unhealthy trees, Waugh said, or trees that are “stressed.� “So it’s good to juice up the health of your trees.�

But the most effective way to stop the spread, unfortunately, is to take down the infected trees. Contact the state Department of Environmental Protection if you think you’ve seen a long-horned beetle, or contact Waugh at 860-671-0252. If a beetle presence is confirmed, the United States Department of Agriculture will pay to have the tree removed.