CLERMONT COUNTY, OH (March 19, 2025) — In a major step forward in Ohio’s battle against the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), state and federal agriculture officials have announced a significant reduction in the quarantine area in Clermont County.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are lifting restrictions on 5.2 square miles of previously quarantined land, including parts of East Fork State Park and Tate Township. This move marks the second time regulations have been lifted since the beetle was first discovered in the area in 2011.
Since the outbreak, more than 118,000 infested or at-risk trees have been removed in an effort to stop the spread of ALB, a destructive wood-boring insect with no known natural predators. The ongoing Ohio ALB Cooperative Eradication Program, operated jointly by ODA and USDA-APHIS, has been key to this progress.
“The reduction of this quarantine area shows our eradication efforts through this program are working,” said ODA Director Brian Baldridge. “Ohio communities affected by this invasive pest have stepped up to report infestations, helping with this critical work.”
Despite the recent milestone, 44 square miles in Clermont County remain under quarantine. The beetle continues to pose a serious threat to Ohio’s hardwood forests and the state’s $5 billion nursery industry. Movement of firewood, logs, nursery stock, and other wood materials from regulated zones remains restricted.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is identifiable by its shiny black body with white spots, long black-and-white striped antennae, and bluish-colored legs. Signs of infestation include dime-sized exit holes in tree bark, egg-laying scars, sawdust-like frass, and unexplained dieback or fallen branches.
For a detailed map of the current ALB quarantine zones in Ohio, visit the Ohio Department of Agriculture website.
