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Dreaded Beetle Found In Boston

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The preserved remains of an Asian longhorned beetle in Worcester (AP)
The preserved remains of an Asian longhorned beetle in Worcester (AP)

They're here: The dreaded Asian long-horned beetle has been discovered in Boston. The pest has infested thousands of trees in central Massachusetts, forcing the removal of nearly 30,000 trees in the Worcester area.

What's especially disconcerting is where the beetles were found -- the grounds of the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plain, across the street from the Arnold Arboretum, the 265-acre collection of trees that is the oldest of its kind in the country.

At a press conference outside the hospital Tuesday, state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said the infestation appears to be isolated, affecting only six red maples that were cut down this morning.

"The situation here in Boston is fundamentally very different than Worcester," he said. "In Worcester, when the teams first arrived, there was widespread infestation, a lot of these bugs around. They only found a couple of them here on the grounds, and they've surveyed all the surrounding trees."

Still,  the discovery of the invasive beetle is prompting  a major response from local and federal officials, including a quarantine of wood materials within a 1.5 mile radius of the hospital.

Guest:

  • Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Richard Sullivan

This program aired on July 6, 2010.

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