Long Horned Beetle Damage

The longhorn beetles cerambycidae.

Long horned beetle damage. It currently infests areas in massachusetts new york and ohio. With no current cure early identification and eradication are critical to its control. The beetle chews its way into hardwood trees to lay eggs. The asian longhorned beetle is a black insect with white speckles that grows a long antenna.

Because the asian longhorned beetle can inflict significant tree damage all countries in which it has been accidentally introduced have established eradication protocols. Below are a few asian longhorn beetle facts about the damage they leave behind. This beetle prefers to feed on species of maple trees but they have also been found on alders birches elms sycamores willows and more. Around an infestation an eradication zone is created in which all infested trees are removed and all uninfested host trees are treated with a systemic insecticide.

The egg larva or pupa can overwinter. Their route of entry into the usa appears to have been in. In areas beyond the eradication zone potential host trees are regularly inspected for signs of infestation. The asian long horned beetle anoplophora glabripennis the situation.

Detections of this pest have since been made in most states in the northeastern portion of the united states as well as in california beginning in 1996. An exotic long horned beetle was first discovered attacking ornamental trees in new york city and chicago. An infestation was discovered in mississauga and eradication and quarantine efforts are in place. The loss of maple trees could affect canada s multi million dollar maple syrup industry.

The loss of hardwoods could affect canada s forest industry through the loss of billions of dollars in wood products. Young adults emerge from infested trees in may and may fly several hundred meters to search for a host. Asian longhorn beetle damage has been found on 29 species of deciduous hardwood trees in the u s. This feeding effectively cuts off the tree s food supply and starves it to the point of death.

The asian longhorned beetle can affect ecology economic activities urban landscapes as well as tourism and recreation industries. It threatens recreation and forest resources valued at billions of dollars. Damage symptoms and biology in china this species may have a one or two year life cycle depending on the geographical region. The asian longhorned beetle anoplophora glabripennis or alb is a threat to america s hardwood trees.

Also known as long horned or longicorns are a large family of beetles with over 26 000 species described slightly more than half from the eastern hemisphere most species are characterized by extremely long antennae which are often as long as or longer than the beetle s body in various members of the family however the antennae are quite short e g. The eggs produce larvae and those larvae tunnel deep under the bark and feed on living tree tissue.