AUGUSTA — In recognition of Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month, the Maine Department of Agriculture is asking all Mainers to be on the lookout for this invasive pest. Asian longhorned beetle is a woodboring beetle, responsible for the death of thousands of hardwood trees in nearby Massachusetts.

To aid in recognizing this and other pests, colorful ALB and ‘GotPests’ bookmarks are being mailed to public libraries across the state. The ALB bookmark shows how to recognize the beetle and the damage it causes, and will help residents identify and report infestations. The GotPests bookmark highlights a new, user-friendly website, www.gotpests.org, designed to help Mainers identify common pests, and to find the best methods for keeping gardens, lawns and homes beautiful and pest-free.

“ALB has not been discovered in Maine yet, but these bookmarks serve as an educational aid and a reminder to the public to be aware and report any suspicious sightings,” says Lorraine Taft, outreach coordinator of Maine’s Forest Pest Outreach and Survey Project.

For more information about the Asian longhorned beetle, visit www.albmaine.org or www.gotpests.org.