Asian
Longhorned Beetle
Pest: Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis
)
Insect Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Host Plants:
Healthy specimens of: all known maples in the USA, horsechestnut,
elm, poplar, willow, others.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALHB) is a relatively new introduction
into the United States. It is known to occur in five distinct
geographic regions of New York City and also in several suburbs
of Chicago. This wood borer attacks live, healthy trees; it’s
presence usually leads to the death of the host tree. Home-owners
and concerned citizens should be aware if its signs and report
any suspicious findings immediately to the proper state, federal
or Extension personnel. This pest was positively
identified in a small area of Worcester, Massachusetts in August 2008 but is
not known to occur in any other New England state.
The Problem:
The Asian Longhorned Beetle was first found in NYC, in August of
1996, infesting numerous Norway maple trees in a specific neighborhood
of Brooklyn. Four other sites of infestation have since been discovered
in New York City and Long Island; several thousand trees have been
removed from these areas in an effort to eradicate this pest. To
date, more than a thousand infested trees have also been removed
from the suburbs in the Chicago area. This pest arrives in this
country in the wood pallets and shipping crates at points of entry
for cargo. Once in this country, the beetles will emerge from the
discarded wooden shipping material and seek healthy trees to infest.
There have been nearly 30 interceptions of this pest, at shipping
ports around the nation, since it was first discovered in 1996.
Appearance and Life Cycle:
The adult beetle is approximately 1 1/4" in total body length.
It is a shiny black color that resembles patent leather and it has
crisp white spots on its back. The antennae are longer than their
bodies and each antennal segment alternates between white and black.
Adult beetles emerge from trees some time in June and may be active
late into the fall. Female beetles will chew individual "notches"
in the bark of trees and lay an egg in each of these sites. Larvae
(immatures) soon hatch and feed under the bark by tunneling.
Later, in the fall, they tunnel deep into the wood where they spend
the winter. They pupate in the spring and adults start emerging
in June. Round exit holes, caused by the adults, are about 1/2"
in diameter; copious amounts of sawdust can also be seen on the
ground at the time of adult emergence.
One to two years of infestation can kill a
healthy tree. Currently, these beetles are known to be attracted
to all species of maples, horsechestnut, willow, poplar, elm, and
other deciduous tree species.
All Conifers (pines, hemlocks, spruces, firs etc.) are not attacked
by this pest; oaks and Ginkgo are also much less susceptible to
attack.
Images:
An adult Asian Longhorned Beetle displaying the characteristic
coloration and markings. Photo by: Ken Law, USDA
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Immature Asian Longhorned Beetle larvae within the stem of
a maple branch that they have severely damaged by their feeding
activity. Photo by: Robert Childs
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An egg-laying (ovipositional) site chewed by the adult female
beetle. One egg is laid in each site like this. Photo by:
Robert Childs
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A typical round exit hole of the adult Asian Longhorned Beetle.
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Copious amounts of coarse sawdust are produced adult beetles
as they emerge from the host tree. Photo by: Dennis Souto,
USDA Forest Service
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A fairly mature larvae of the Asian Longhorned Beetle.
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Wood
attackers index:
Asian
Longhorned Beetle
Asian
Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts
Bronze Birch Beetle
Dogwood Borer
Emerald Ash Borer  - Courtesy
of USDA Forest Service
Rhododendron Borer
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