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Asian Longhorn Beetle
Family: Cerambycidae;
Genus: Anoplophora;
Species: glabripennis;
General:
ALBs apparently entered North America in solid wood packing materials from Asian.They were first found in 1996 in Brooklyn, NY. Since then other infestations have resulted in damaged trees, quarantines, and removal of thousands of additional trees in residential neighborhoods. This species has the potential be extremely destructive.
Description:
ALBs are 1 to 1 1/2 in. long, shiny, black with irregularly spaced white spots. Antennae are very long with black and white bands.
Distribution:
Native to China and North Korea. USDA efforts have limited beetles to Chicago, the New York City area, and Jersey City, NJ. Beetles have also been found and contained near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Hosts:
They attack many different hardwood trees, including maple (Norway, sugar, silver, and red), birch, horse chestnut, poplar, willow, elm, ash, and black locust.
Life cycle:
Annual Cycle. Female ALBs chew up to dime-sized depressions in the bark of healthy hardwood trees in which to lay eggs. Hatching occurs in 10 to 15 days and larvae tunnel under the bark. Larvae feed on cambium during the fall and pupate in winter, emerging through round, 3/8 in., exit holes during the spring. After emerging, adult beetles feed on tree exteriors for 2 to 3 days, then mate. Adult beetles
remain active only during summer and early fall months.
Signs of Attack:
Circular exit holes, frass (insect waste and sawdust) on limbs or ground, dime-sized depressions in bark (for eggs), unseasonal yellowing or drooping of leaves, beetles themselves.
Look-Alikes:
The Whitespotted Pine Sawyer (one white spot at base of wing covers) is often confuses with the ALB, as is ithe Oregon Fir Sawyer (dull body with white dot at the base of the wing covers). The Southern Whitespotted Sawyer are distinguished from ALB by their reddish gray mottled color.
How to prevent spread:
It is imperative to refrain from transporting whole ash trees, limbs, branches, untreated ash lumber with bark attached, uncomposted chips larger than 1 in. in dia. from areas of quaranteen. This includes firewood.
Other Link(s):
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/alb/
http://www.uvm.edu/albeetle/infestation/index.html
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Female (middle), male (bottom) compared to Cottonwood Borer (top)
Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University
Larva
Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ
Life Cycle
Kenneth R. Law, USDA APHIS PPQ
Damage and exit holes
E. Richard Hoebeke, Cornell University
U.S. Distribution
University of Vermont
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