Feds expand regulated beetle zone in West Boylston.

Byline: Michael Kane

WEST BOYLSTON - All of West Boylston has been added to the Asian longhorned beetle regulated zone from which no wood or wood debris can be transferred, according to USDA spokeswoman Rhonda Santos.

Previously, the zone extended to Route 140 from the Worcester and Holden border. The zone was expanded late last week after climbers identified 18 beetle infested trees in the area of Crescent and Central streets.

Climbers were sent to the area earlier in the week after a resident called the USDA hotline the previous Friday to report a beetle sighting, Santos said.

Because there is a break in the infestation between this part of town and areas of town already found to have beetles, the USDA believes this newly-discovered infestation had been caused by infested wood being moved into the area, Santos said.

While Gaumond said he is concerned with the beetles being found in another area of town, he noted there have been no confirmed infestations between the northern side of town near Worcester and the new infestation area, saying it is possible the Crescent and Central street-area trees are isolated.

There is also one benefit to having the entire town in the regulated zone, Gaumond acknowledged. The town can now re-open the Laurel Street brush dump that closed in August, 2008, when the beetle zone was first announced by the USDA and the State Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Because the brush dump was located outside the zone, wood could not be brought to it except by a few households. The town ran a few brush drop-off days on Paul X. Tivnan Drive over the summer, but could not operate a permanent site.

"It should make things easier from an administration perspective. We have control mechanisms in place," Gaumond said. "But I am less comfortable that beetles have been found in other parts of town."

Beetle sightings can be reported to the USDA Asian longhorned beetle office on Skyline Drive in Worcester at [phone].