Park Trees Chewed Up by Beetles

An all-out survey of Asian longhorned beetles in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park was launched last week by the City Parks Department and U.S. and state agriculture departments.
The action was taken after park officials found the beetles in three maple trees in the park. These creatures which have turned up in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan weaken the trees veins that carry nutrients. Authorities are stalemated in fighting the beetles because there are no pesticides, sprays repellents or injections that can kill the insects.
The Citys only alternative is to cut the trees down, chipped to pieces and burned to prevent further contamination, said Parks Commissioner Henry Stern.
"if humanity doesnt intervene on the side of the trees, the beetles will win," Stern said. "These trees are defenseless."
The infestation came to light when a park employee noticed the pencil-sized holes the beetles leave when burrowing into a tree and contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since then USDA inspectors have amassed about 40 beetles and found three contaminated maple trees.
Stern said that he believes the beetles traveled on top of cars and fell off near 111 St. and Grand Central Parkway, near the park.
In the last four years, more than 2,800 trees in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan were cut down because of the aggressive beetles. In their place, the Parks Department has replanted 4,300 other trees including oaks, lindens and bald cypresses which dont succumb to the beetles.