Res. No. 1001 Resolution calling upon the appropriate committee of the Council to hold oversight hearings on efforts being made to identify, control and eradicate infestations of Asian Longhorned Beetles in communities across the City of New York. By Council Member Fisher: Whereas, A recent pest alert issued by the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that the Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora Glabripennis) "has been discovered attacking trees in the United States. Tunneling by beetle larvae girdles tree stems and branches. Repeated attacks lead to dieback of the tree crown and, eventually, death of the tree."; and Whereas, Identifying the source of the Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations in this country, the United States Department of Agriculture pest alert also indicates that the Asian Longhorned Beetles "probably travelled to the United States inside solid wood packing material from China. The beetle has been intercepted at ports and found in warehouses throughout the United States."; and Whereas, In the United States, the Asian Longhorned Beetle has been found in maple species including boxelder, Norway, red, silver, sugar and sycamore maples, as well as horsechestnut, black locust, elms, birches, willows, poplars and green ash; and Whereas, The only effective means to eliminate the Asian Longhorned Beetle is to remove infested trees and destroy them by chipping and burning; and Whereas, To prevent further spread of the insect, quarantines have been established to avoid the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle to heretofore uncontaminated areas; and Whereas, The reproductive cycle of the Asian Longhorned Beetle is described in the United States Department of Agriculture pest alert as follows: "Adult beetles are usually present from May to October but can be found earlier in spring or later in fall if temperatures are warm. Adults usually stay on the tree from which they emerged or they may disperse short distances to a new host to feed and reproduce. Each female is capable of laying 30 to 70 eggs. The eggs hatch in 10-15 days and the larvae tunnel under the bark and into the wood where they eventually pupate. The adults emerge from pupation sites by boring a tunnel in the wood and creating a round exit hole in the tree."; and Whereas, Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations were first reported in the City of New York in 1996 when 1,600 trees in the Brooklyn communities of Williamsburg and Greenpoint had to be destroyed; and Whereas, In 1998, Asian Longhorned Beetles were discovered in the Bayside and Woodside sections of Queens resulting in the destruction of more than 200 additional trees; and Whereas, In 1999, Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations resulted in the destruction of approximately 40 more trees in the Flushing section of Queens; and Whereas, In August of 1999, Asian Longhorned Beetles were discovered in two dozen trees in Manhattan parks located in close proximity to Central Park; and Whereas, In an effort to stop the further spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle, the United States Department of Agriculture is working closely with the State of New York, which has imposed a quarantine on the movement of wood out of the affected communities, and with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation which operates a special telephone hotline to report suspected beetle infestations (1-800-201-PARK); and Whereas, It is imperative that all of these agencies undertake a coordinated program to quickly identify, control and eradicate all Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations in the City of New York to halt the continued spread of this deadly menace; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon its appropriate Committee to hold oversight hearings on efforts being made to identify, control and eradicate infestations of Asian Longhorned Beetles in communities across the City of New York. LS#2107 ISP:ts 8/27/99 |1013|