Asian long-horned beetle
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{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Asian long-horned beetle | image = Asian longhorned beetle.jpg | image_width = 250px | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Arthropoda | classis = Insecta | ordo = Coleoptera | familia = Cerambycidae | subfamilia = Lamiinae | tribus = Monochamini | genus = Anoplophora | species = A. glabripennis | binomial = Anoplophora glabripennis | binomial_authority = Motschulsky, 1853 }}
The Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), sometimes called Starry Sky (Sky Oxen in China) beetle, is native to China and Korea where it causes widespread mortality of poplar, willow, elm, and maple throughout vast areas of eastern Asia.
Asian longhorned beetles are big, showy insects: shiny and coal black with white spots. Adults are about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. On their head is a pair of very long antennae that are alternately ringed in black and white. The antennae are longer than the insect's body.
An invasive species in the United States, the larva of this beetle has a voracious appetite for wood. It is especially damaging to maple trees: Norway, sugar, silver, and red maple are among its preferred foods. The species also feeds on horse-chestnut, poplar, willow, elm, mulberry, and black locust. Females of this species chew into the bark and lay eggs. When the eggs hatch, the immature beetles, which look like big white worms, chew their way farther into the tree. When they mature, the full-grown beetles chew their way out of the tree. The beetle life cycle leaves trees riddled with holes, oozing sap. The USDA believes this beetle can probably survive and reproduce in most sections of the country where suitable host trees exist.
More Information
The Asian Longhorned Beetle can be seen from late spring to fall, depending on the climate. Host trees include: Acer (maple, boxelder), Aesculus (horsechestnut, buckeye), Salix (willow), and Ulmus (elm.) The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was first discovered in Amityville, NY and soon after in Brooklyn, NY in 1996. Since then, infestations were found in and around New York City, including on Long Island and in Queens and Flushing Park. Several infested trees were removed around Central Park, where over 20,000 potential host trees grow.
- Discovered in Chicago in July 1998.
- Discovered in Jersey City in NJ in October 2002.
- Discovered in Carteret, NJ in August 2004.
- Discovered in Toronto, Canada in September 2003.
Over 6,000 infested trees have been cut down and destroyed to eradicate ALB from New York and over 1,550 trees in Chicago and more than 600 trees in New Jersey. Infested trees continue to be discovered.
The government is trying to eradicate this species primarily because of two reasons:
- Impact. If it becomes established in this country it could significantly impact our natural forest and urban environment.
- Limited Infestation Size. Infestations are limited in size at this time, and the federal government still believes ALB can be eliminated completely if action is taken now!
The steps that have been taken to eliminate the Asian Longhorned Beetle include:
- Quarantines. Quarantines have been established around infested areas to prevent accidental spread of ALB by people.
- Infested trees cut, chipped and burned. All infested trees are being removed, chipped in place, and the chips are being burned. The stumps of infested trees are ground to below the soil level. All tree removal is done by certified tree care personnel to ensure that the process is completed properly.
- Insecticide treatments. Research is underway way to determine the effectiveness of certian insecticides against ALB (read more). Insecticidal treatments have begun in New York and Chicago in hopes of preventing and containing infestations.
- Extensive surveys. All host trees on public and private property located within an established distance from an infested area are surveyed by trained local, state, or federal personnel. Infested areas will be re-surveyed at least once per year for 3-5 years after the last beetle or infested tree is found.
The USDA has created several rules for the importation of wood and other products that could carry the pest. Pest inspection, new rules, and public awareness are the key steps to prevention of the spread of the asian longhorned beetle, a beetle which could have devastating effects on our environment. Serviceberry or Shadbush, Ironwood, Southern catalpa, Hackberry, Turkish filbert, Ginkgo, honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree, Tuliptree, Dawn redwood, White oak, Swamp white oak, Bur oak, English oak, Japanese lilac, Bald cypress, Basswood, Littleleaf linden are trees that are being planted to replace host trees.
External links
A very informative site about the Asian Longhorned Beetle has been created and maintained at the University of Vermont through funding provided by the USDA: http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle