Asian longhorned beetle
(Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky, 1853))

Overview

Origin

Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, is native to Asia (principally China) and invasive in parts of western Europe, and in several American cities, where eradication efforts are underway. This borer attacks a variety of hardwood trees.

Spread

In China, Asian longhorned beetles are not damaging in forests, but because of extensive planting of certain poplars (exotic varieties) that proved highly susceptible to the species, the insect increased in abundance. This action facilitated the beetle's dissemination to other countries because infested wood was used for packing material.

Ecological Threat

In southern Asia, a generation requires one year, but in northern areas, two years are required. Generations may be overlapping. Unlike many cerambycids, A. glabripennis attacks healthy trees as well as those under stress. Several generations can develop within an individual tree, eventually killing it.

Adults

Adults emerge over an extended period from spring to fall, but especially in late June to early July. Adults remain on or near their emergence tree and engage in maturation feeding on leaves, petioles, and tender bark. Eggs are laid singly under the bark, in egg sites chewed by females.

Larvae

Larvae feed in the cambium layer of the tree and later into the heartwood. Larvae dig pupation chambers inside the tree, which can be filled with frass. Adults emerge via large (0.4 in. [1 cm] dia) round exit holes, which are a visible sign of infestation.

Resources

• Program Aid - USDA APHIS PPQ
• Fact Sheet - USDA APHIS PPQ
• Special Report - National Hardwood Lumber Association
• Web site - USDA Forest Service
• Web site - USDA APHIS PPQ
• National Agricultural Pest Information System - Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey
• Asian Longhorned Beetle and its SE US Lookalikes - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
• Asian Longhorned Beetle Fact Sheet - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
• Asian Longhorned Beetle PowerPoint - Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Selected Images

Maps

Invasive Listing Sources

• Delaware Invasive Species Council Invasive Species List
• Idaho Invasive Species Act
• Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
• Iowa Tree Pests
• Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
• Michigan’s Invasive Species Watch List
• Michigan’s Prohibited and Restricted Species
• National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Target Species
• National Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Target Species - 2015
• New Hampshire Prohibited Invasive Species
• New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
• New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Prohibited
• North American Forest Commission Exotic Forest Pest Information System
• Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program Tracked Species List
• South Carolina Plant Pest List
• USDA APHIS Regulated Pest List
• Virginia Invasive Species Management Plan 2012
• West Virginia Invasive Species Strategic Plan and Volunteer Guidelines 2014
• Wisconsin's Invasive species rule – NR 40

References