SCFC sawyers help on invasive species project

by Invasive Species Coordinator Katie Biggert

Asian Longhorned Beetle in SC

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is a federally regulated invasive species that has the potential to be one of the most damaging forest pests if left unchecked. It is a wood-boring beetle capable of infesting 13 genera of hardwood trees in the US, but it has a strong preference for maples — particularly red maples. 

First detected in South Carolina in Hollywood in May 2020, the ALB project was formed as a cooperative effort between Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) and the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) to eradicate ALB from the state.  

Unique effects

The ALB population in SC presents some challenges not experienced in the rest of the country.

First, in a subtropical climate, the life cycle of the beetle is much faster, which means ALB may be able to produce two generations a year rather than one generation every year or two years. 

Second, our coastal swamps are difficult to access with heavy equipment, which makes the standard eradication strategy– to completely remove infested trees– virtually impossible to do. 

To further complicate efforts, a satellite population of ALB was found in Mount Pleasant mid-2025.

In these hard to access areas, scientists from Clemson and NC State have found evidence that a “drop and rot” method will be adequate, meaning infested, felled trees are left to decompose naturally with the goal of preventing ALB larvae from developing into adults.

Most of the standard tree removal in the quarantine zones is contracted out to Davey Tree, but in the swampy woodlots, felling the infested trees is the sole responsibility of APHIS.

It is daunting task for only a handful of staff. Though it is not the responsibility of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, this pest is a threat to our forests, and we do have staff with training and tools to fell trees.  

SCFC fallers assist cooperators

To assist the ALB project staff, SCFC Invasive Species Coordinator Katie Biggert organized a two-week tree felling blitz with some of the Commission’s certified fellers. Each unit sent a crew of two fellers to Hollywood for a week. As the local unit, Santee sent a different pair of fellers each day.

Not entirely sure what to expect, APHIS had crews start on a 164-acre property that had about 300 trees that were marked as infested. Each tree was marked with aged paint and a tag.

• Invasive Species Coordinator Katie Biggert shares maps for the day with Cherokee/Chester/York Sector Wildland Firefighter Jamie Norman.

  
• Kershaw/Lancaster/Lee Project Forester Conner Lizana fells a tree.

  
• Three fresh ALB egg sites and frass on a felled tree

  
• Manchester State Forestry Technician Wayne Eaddy fells a tree.

  
• Can you spot the ALB exit hole?

  
• Edgefield/McCormick/Saluda Project Forester Henry Hutto plans to fell his next tree.

  

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Though mercifully dry this time of year, the thick understory made finding and felling trees difficult. The location of each tree is mapped, but APHIS couldn’t share the FieldMaps with us. 

Mid-way through the week, SCFC fallers introduced APHIS staff to Avenza Maps. By the third day, we were given PDF maps of the tree locations. 

By lunch time Thursday, we had cut an estimated 294 trees with an average diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10.83 inches, but there were some maples with diameters in the upper 20s to low 30s. The crew working that week blew away any expectations we had for how much we could do. 

At the start of the second week, crews moved to a much larger and much wetter site just down the road. The lessons learned from the first week, like having a map and fresh paint on the trees, allowed crews to move much faster. Fellers cut approximately 668 trees with an average DBH of 9.7 inches. The stand has a history of prescribed fire, so the understory was a lot more open, but an abundance of cypress knees added an extra level of difficulty.  

Depending on funding, we might have an opportunity to do more felling in October.  

We would like to express special thanks to our incredible staff who came out to help fell an estimated 962 trees.  

Thank you, fallers!

Week 1 

Week 2