If you own a pool in the towns of Brewster or Southeast, you could be part of some research that could help save humanity.

 

Actually it may not be that drastic, but you could help save local forest and area trees that could be destroyed by a certain kind of beetle.

According to patch.com Officials want pool owners across New York State to join the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s fourth annual Asian long horned beetle swimming pool survey.

Now through Aug. 30, you can help the DEC by keeping a lookout for these invasive beetles before they damage our local forest and trees.

These destructive insects originated in Asia, and are believed to have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of trees across the nation, including places like New York, Long Island, New Jersey, and places with a heavy maple tree population.

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
loading...

Here are some directions for participating in the pool survey:

Step 1: Starting in the last week of July, through the last week of August (when adults are active), at least once a week, or when you clean your pool, check the debris collected in your filter and skimmers.

Step 2: Look for the ALB (See what it looks like on DEC’s ALB web page). Contact the Forest Health Program and they will provide a sheet to help identify insects collected.

Step 3: Take a picture of any insect you think might be an ALB.

Step 4: Send the photos of the insects that look like ALB to foresthealth@dec.ny.gov.

Step 5: Freeze the insect in a plastic container until DEC staff respond (typically that will be about a week). Staff will either instruct you to discard the insect or give instructions on mailing it, delivering it, or arranging for pick-up.

For more information on ALB and the Pool Survey, visit DEC’s website.

To sign up for the survey, contact:

NYSDEC Forest Health Program
Attn: Jessica Cancelliere
Email: foresthealth@dec.ny.gov                                                                                        Phone: (518) 810-1609

 

Listen to Mr. Morning weekdays from 6:00-10AM on 105.5 FM, online at kicks1055.com/listen-live/ or by downloading the radioPup app for your mobile device.

More From The Wolf