The Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is an invasive species that poses a significant threat to hardwood forests in North America. Native to East Asia, this beetle has made its way across the globe, causing extensive damage to trees and ecosystems. Understanding its biology, impact, and control measures is crucial for managing and mitigating its effects.
Identification
The Asian long-horned beetle is a striking insect, recognizable by its glossy black body with white spots and long, banded antennae. Adults are approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in length, and their larvae are white, worm-like, and can grow up to 2 inches long. The beetle's distinctive appearance makes it relatively easy to identify, which is crucial for early detection.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the Asian long-horned beetle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females lay eggs in cracks and crevices of tree bark. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into the wood, where they feed and develop. This feeding causes extensive damage to the tree's vascular system, disrupting nutrient and water transport. After several months, the larvae pupate within the wood before emerging as adults, ready to continue the cycle.
Asian long-horned beetle can attack maple and hardwood trees anywhere. Check your trees for ALB and the damage it causes. And please don't move firewood out of quarantined areas.
Here's what to look for:
•Adult Insects (warmer months):◦Black and white antennae that are longer than the insect’s body
◦Shiny, black body with white spots, about the size of an almond
◦Six legs and feet that can appear bluish in color
•Tree Damage (year-round):◦Round exit holes in tree trunks and branches about the size of a dime or smaller
◦Egg sites that are oval or round wounds chewed into the bark, and you may see sap weeping
◦Sawdust-like material called frass found on the ground around the tree or on tree branches
◦Branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree
◦Tunneling in the wood may be seen on fallen branches, cut wood, or firewood
◦Leaves that may turn yellow prematurely or leaves with chewed veins
You can help stop the ALB by checking trees and reporting signs early. Limiting the movement of ALB-host materials, such as firewood, keeps infestations from spreading.
Report it: If you think you found a beetle or tree damage, report it by calling the Asian long-horned beetle . Try to photograph the ALB or tree damage. If you can, capture the beetle in a durable container and freeze it, which helps preserve the insect for identification.
Reduce spread: If you live in an Asian long-horned beetle quarantine area, please keep the tree-killing pest from spreading. Follow State and Federal laws. Laws limit moving tree material and untreated firewood in case ALB is inside.
Infested trees cannot be treated or saved. The only way to destroy the insect is to remove the tree and either incinerate or chip the wood.
This is why regularly checking your trees, and reporting any suspicious damage or the beetle, is so important. Early detection can save trees.
