News Release

For immediate use
For information contact:
Amy Chmura at 708-342-2175

PARK DISTRICT SUMMER CAMP YOUTH JOIN HUNT FOR THE ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE

1,500 "Beetle Busters" Scour 42 Neighborhoods Looking for the Tree-destroying Beetle (CHICAGO, July 9, 2005)-The tree-destroying Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) beware. More than 1,500 Chicago youth are searching their neighborhoods and area parks for you. The youth-known as the Beetle Busters-have taken on searching for the beetle as part of their summer camp activities sponsored by the Chicago Park District. The Beetle Busters are active in a 26-square-mile area that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has targeted for an awareness raising and community engagement campaign.

Although the Asian Longhorned Beetle has not been seen in the Chicago area for two years, federal and city officials want to make sure the beetle is not hiding somewhere in the 42 communities lying north, west and south of the previously infested Ravenswood neighborhood. Ravenswood lost nearly 1,500 trees in 1998 because of the infestation, and was under a federal quarantine until April of this year. The quarantine required that the trees not only be cut, but also shredded and burned.

"The deregulation of the Ravenswood Asian Longhorned Beetle quarantine zone shows we're winning the battle against this very destructive pest," said Gwen A. Servies, Director of the USDA/APHIS Asian Longhorned Beetle Project in Chicago. "However, it's important to remember that we're not out of the woods yet, and must remain vigilant during these summer months to any new possible sightings."

The USDA/APHIS and the City of Chicago are asking residents in the target communities to join their surveillance efforts by keeping an eye out for the beetle as they go about enjoying the summer, and reporting to the USDA/APHIS by calling 312.742.3385 or visiting www.beetlebusters.info.

Although it is anticipated-and hoped-that NO Asian Longhorned Beetles will be found, reporting such non-sightings is very important, according to the USDA/APHIS. " These negative reports that say 'I looked, but did not see the beetle'-are important because they let us know that the residents of the 42 communities understand that looking for the beetle is an important preventive measure," Servies said. Area Aldermen and community and business groups, such as the Portage Park Chamber of Commerce and the North Park Village Nature Center, have joined the federal/city beetle tracking efforts.

"People enjoy living in neighborhoods rich in trees, and understand that they are worth protecting," said Robert W. Benjamin, Asian Longhorned Beetle Outreach Coordinator for the Chicago ALB Project Office. "The more people we have looking and reporting, the better off we are in finding any possible new infestation. But the only way to know that additional eyes are on the lookout for the beetle is to have residents call us at 312.742.3385 or visit the www.beetlebusters.info web site," he said.

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is very distinctive in appearance. It is shiny black with irregular white spots on its body, about 1 to 1½ inches in size, and has very long black and white-banded antennae. Telltale signs of the beetle's presence, even if one is not spotted, include oval or round pit marks, which are egg- laying sites in the bark of trees, perfectly round exit holes about ½ inch in diameter on the tree trunk, branches or exposed roots, and large piles of coarse sawdust at the base of trees.

"We have people out every day checking the city's trees for the ALB, but need residents' help," said Acting Commissioner Michael J Picardi, Department of Streets and Sanitation. "If Chicagoans were to look for the beetle only a couple times each month-and report their findings-it would help our efforts greatly."

Citizens have played a vital role in helping officials battle the beetle infestation since 1998, when the first sighting was traced to a load of firewood in the Ravenswood neighborhood on the North Side. The beetle is believed to have arrived in Ravenswood in the wood crates used to pack Chinese-made goods.

The USDA/APHIS target neighborhoods include Rogers Park, West Rogers Park, Pulaski Park, Hollywood Park, Peterson Park, North Park, Sauganash, Edgewater, South Edgewater, Forest Glen, Jefferson Park, Dunning, Montclare, Belmont Cragin, North Austin, Portage Park, Hermosa, and Logan Square (southern part). Also, Humboldt Park, Western Humbold Park, East Garfield Park, Palmer Square (part of), Bucktown, Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, Noble Square, West Town, Near West Side, University Village (part of), Goose Island, Gold Coast, River North, River West, Magnificent Mile, Old Town, Streeterville, Fulton District, Greek Town, West Loop, South Loop (including Printers Row), The Loop, and New East Side.