The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) has made news across the United
States. These beetles came to America from China, living in wood turned
into shipping material. At first the beetles invaded urban areas, where
hardwood trees were in limited supply--Chicago was able to declare
itself ALB-free in 2006. But right now there is bad news in
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Toronto--infestations have
erupted in the area's hardwood forests, and these beetles, while bad at
flying, are very good at killing trees.
Clint McFarland's job? Stop the ALB at any cost. How do you balance the
needs of residents, the impact to the environment, and an invasive
species primed to wipe out entire forests? It takes the help of everyday
people, such as children playing baseball at a playground, teams of
beetle-sniffing dogs, and science-minded people (bug scientists and tree
doctors) to eradicate this invasive pest.