NY Daily News reports today Asian Longhorned Beetle confirmed in Norway malples at a playground on E.93rd St. Manhattan, within striking distance of Central Park.

By coincidence have spent a number of days recently between E. 81st and E. 90th. Only a handfull of Norway maples out of the hundreds thus far surveyed. Species predominantly Crataegus and Platanus with a scattering of Tilia, Quercus, Prunus, Malus, Ulmus and Pinus.

I understand specifically ALB has not yet been found on Tilia, but have not heard one way or the other on the others. Any input appreciated.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on August 26, 1999 at 19:22:56:

New York Botanical is 107 block north of there (roughly 5 miles). I'm pushing for an organized inspection program for our collections, but like any old creaky machine, its slow getting movement to happen. Doesn't help that I'm not in the Horticulture Department anymore.....

I have looked at the egg-laying sites on samples the DEC had at a conference and I think its really difficult to tell them from bite markes made in maple branches by squirrels. We have about 10 times the normal complement of squirrels per acre when compared to a normal woodland in the northeast, and in the spring they chew on everything leaving "pits and bark chips" everywhere. Its not a surprise that the first evidence is so often exit holes.

Wayne