A supicious bug in your pool cleaner? Send a picture to Cooperative Extension
Posted by David Brooks | Friday, August 3, 2012
Last year UNH Cooperative Extension tried a program in which people who found suspicious-looking beetles in their swimming pool clear could send in a photo of them, so entomologists could determine if it was an Asian Longhorned Beetle (the native invasive that has led to tens of thousands of trees in Worcester, Mass., being destroyed).
They've expanded the program this year, creating a Web form that lets you send in a photo of any beetle, whether caught in pool cleaner or not. Check it out here. It runs through mid-August, when adult ALB beetles* are active. Here are some pictures that have been sent in.
The site includes some bug-photographing tips:
To take pictures of a fast-moving insect, slow it down by placing it in the freezer for at least an hour before taking the picture. Store the insect in a tupperware-like container until you hear from us (about a week). We will either tell you to release the insect or give you instructions about mailing it, delivering it or arranging for pick-up.
* I know "ALB beetle" is redundant, but "ALB" alone is weird and I didn't want to spell the whole thing again
