asian longhorned beetles august forest pest awareness month

August is Forest Pest Awareness Month

by Jennifer Smith August 01, 2016

About the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

Native to China and Korea, these six-legged beetles are believed to have arrived in the U.S. from cargo shipments from Asia. They feed off of woody trees, eventually killing them. These invasive insects are large, measuring 1 to 1.5 inches in length with long antennae. There bodies contain small white spots and the antennas are banded in black and white. The ALB can fly for 400 yards to search for a host tree or mate.

The ALB latch onto trees, feasting on them until they die. Once they leave the tree, the beetles move to the leaves and bark for 10-14 days before mating and laying eggs, thus producing more pests. Because the beetles grow in different stages, similar to ticks, adults emerge at different times of the year. However, adult ALBs are mainly seen from April to December.

How They Are Harming Us

These invasive insects can devastate trees in rural, urban and suburban communities. A study by the USDA Forest Service determined that if the Asian Longhorned beetles became established across the country, it would probably kill 30 percent of all urban trees — at a compensatory value of $669 billion.

The beetle can also destroy the maple syrup industry which produced $73.5 million in the United States in 2011.
Tourism may be affected, as Fall foliage is a vital economic advantage along the East Coast and Midwest where red maples are an attraction. (Tourists bring in approximately $1 billion in revenue in New England alone!)

Take time to check local trees for signs of damage during August. Be sure not to move firewood, as this action can transport the ALB. If you spot an Asian Longhorned Beetle, report it immediately; and protect your home with insect repellents.