Meeting 1137 Minutes

Minutes from the 1137th Meeting of the Cambridge Entomological Club

President Jess Walden-Gray called the 1137th meeting of the Cambridge Entomological Club to order at 7:35 pm on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at MCZ 101. Approximately 22 members and guests were in attendance.

New business: Two perspective members were nominated: Nathan Coney and Alan Grant
A Bioblitz at Arnold Arboretum is planned.

Old business: 4 people were voted into membership.

Our speaker was Michael Bohne, Forest Health Group Leader at the US Forest Service,
Durham Field Office. His talk was entitled The Flipside of Biological Invasions: The Positive Social Impact of Working with the Asian Longhorned Beetle.

In 1999, entomologist Michael Bohne began work on the Asian longhorned beetle in Ningxia, China where it originated. Since then, the ALB has seemingly followed him throughout his career. He has been involved in eradication efforts in New York, New Jersey, California and New England. The Worcester infestation, discovered in 2008, is the largest found so far. Maples are a favorite host of the ALB, but many other trees are also vulnerable. The beetle causes structural damage to the tree by burrowing into the heartwood. Infestations can be hard to detect because visible damage is often high up in the crown of the tree.

Michael discussed his strategies for Asian longhorned beetle eradication and his experiences with management, research and public outreach. His presentation highlighted ways to engage the public, and how a person interested in working with insects can end up in a career working with people.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 for discussion and refreshments.

Respectfully submitted,

Andrea Golden, CEC Secretary