Growers asked to become pest detectives

Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association, Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association and USDA are partnering to ask growers to participate in the Volunteer Emerald Ash Borer/Asian Longhorned Beetle Forest Pest Survey. The purpose of the survey is to determine if these damaging pests are in the growers’ communities. Growers are being asked to help stop the spread of these beetles by searching for them in host trees. Emerald ash borer lives in ash trees and Asian longhorn beetle lives in hardwood trees, particularly maple, birch, horse chestnut, willow and elm.

Growers should report both positive and negative sightings online at BeetleDetectives.com. Negative sightings help confirm the beetles were not found in a particular area. Other states participating in the program include Ohio, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.