The most recent Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) cooperative responsive update was distributed on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, and was used as the single source for this article.

The delimiting surveys are being performed in the village of Bethel and throughout Tate Township in Clermont County in southwest Ohio. This survey work consists of visual surveys of all host trees within a given radius of the initial find. As of August 3, 2011, the following numbers pertain to the delimiting survey activities: the number of ALB infested trees confirmed - 694; the number of trees surveyed on July 30, 2011 - 740; total number of trees surveyed since July 5, 2011 - 27,874; 2.49% of trees surveyed are infested; and the number of square-miles under regulation remains the same - 56.

Key messages being communicated by USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) include: residents in the ALB regulated area established for Tate Township within Clermont County cannot move firewood or wood debris outside of the regulated area and outside of East Fork State Park; residents are discouraged from moving firewood and wood debris inside the regulated area; residents can report suspected ALB by calling 1-855-252-6450 or by going online to http://www.BeetleBusters.info; and residents can also call 1-855-252-6450 to report any movement of firewood or wood debris within or outside of the regulated area over the past 5 years.

Regardless of the approach that will be taken to address the ALB infestation in Tate Township, USDA/APHIS wants to assure area homeowners that they will not incur costs for the removals of infested trees by the state or federal government.