Asian Long Horned Beetle
- 2. Introduction
The Asian Long Horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), also known as the starry sky
beetle, or ALB is native to eastern China, Japan and Korea. The beetle is a relatively large insect
with bodies ranging from one to one and a half inches in length and antennae which can be as long
as four inches (Becker, 2000). They are shiny
and black with about twenty white spots on each
wing (Becker, 2000). These beetles fly, but
generally only for short distances. Due to their
size and weight, flying takes up a tremendous
amount of their energy (Becker, 2000). The
upper sections of the legs of the adults are whitish-blue. Anoplophora glabripennis can be
distinguished from related species by the colorations on the wing covers and the pattern of the
antennae (Becker, 2000).
The beetle arrived in the Unites States, Canada and parts of Europe around 1996 due to the
shipping of solid wood packaging material from China to other parts of the world (Faccoli, 2015).
The Asian Long Horned Beetle was first discovered in the United States in the Greenpoint section
of Brooklyn, New York. Soon after, another infestation was identified in Amityville on Long Island,
New York. The ALB was noticed in Chicago in 1998. An ALB infestation was detected in Hudson
County, New Jersey in 2002 and in the Central New Jersey Middlesex and Union Counties in 2004.
In 2008 a sizeable infestation was discovered stemming from the removal of more than 28,000
trees in Worcester, Massachusetts. Worcester County has since revealed that, since 2008, over
19,000 trees were infested; there is some evidence that the infestation may date back as far as
1997. As of 2011, the ALB is considered a threat to the forestry industry in Ohio and steps are
- 3. being taken to eradicate it. The beetle has also plagued Britain, Austria and Germany (Faccoli,
2015). The introduction of the species was not intentional and has proven to be extremely
devastating to many native tree populations. Luckily the Asian Long Horned beetle will only
migrate if population density becomes too high and will generally stay on the tree it was born.
In its native range, the Asian Long Horned Beetle infests trees predominantly in the genera
Acer (Sapindaceae, Maple), Populus (Salicaceae), Salix (Salicaceae, Willow), and Ulmus (Ulmaceae,
Elm) (Gaag, 2014). In the United States, the Asian Long Horned Beetle has been seen to infest itself
on species of these genera and also Aesculus
(Sapindaceae), Albizia (Fabaceae), Betula
(Betulaceae), Cercidiphyllum (Cercidiphyllaceae),
Fraxinus (Oleaceae), Platanus (Platanaceae),
Prunus (Rosaceae), and Sorbus (Rosaceae) (Gaag,
2014). Acer is the most commonly infested tree
genus in the United States, followed by Ulmus and
Salix (Gaag, 2014). In Canada, infestation has been confirmed only on Acer, Betula, Populus, and
Salix, although some inhabitation has occurred on other tree genera (Gaag, 2014). Acer is the most
commonly infested tree genus in Canada just as it is in the United States (Gaag, 2014). In Europe,
infestation has been found on Acer, Aesculus, Alnus (Betulaceae), Betula, Carpinus (Betulaceae),
Fagus (Fagaceae), Fraxinus, Platanus, Populus, Prunus, Salix, and Sorbus (Gaag, 2014). The top five
host genera infested in Europe, in decreasing order, are Acer, Betula, Salix, Aesculus, and Populus
(Gaag, 2014). Although individual beetles do not typically scatter very far, some may travel as far
as a mile or two in a season in search of new host trees (Favaro, 2015).
- 4. Damages
Adult males have mature spermatozoa, and feeding is necessary only to sustain their
normal activity (Li & Liu, 1997). Asian Long Horned Beetle larvae and adults chew and break
down wood with deceivingly small, yet very strong, mandibles (Becker, 2000). Adults, particularly
the males, display long antennae used to sense the sex
pheromones of potential mates. The prominent antennae
probably act as aposematic signals to predators and in
sexual competition (Becker, 2000). Due to the
aposematic signals of the adults, the main targets for
predation by birds for example, are the larvae. Both the
larval and adult forms consume wood as their food
source. As they eat, they tunnel into the tree's phloem
and cambium layers beneath the tree bark. After several
months, they tunnel deeper into the tree's heartwood
where they mature into pupae. The total process from egg to pupation takes approximately ten to
twenty two months with variations due to season, weather, and the quality of the food supplied by
the tree (Becker, 2000).
For the Asian Long Horned Beetle the phloem and cambium are the best food sources
although it is not as safe to the beetle due to the close proximity to the outside of the tree.
Heartwood and even sapwood are less desirable, but more protected , and thus that is where the
mature larva digs its pupation chamber to avoid being eaten by birds (Becker, 2000). Adult
Anoplophora glabripennis feed on leaves, twigs, and other plant matter. In their native habitat,
larvae of Anoplophora glabripennis feed on the healthy bark, phloem, and xylem of more than
- 5. twenty four species of hardwood trees. This causes the destruction and death of many trees. Since
trees are the beetle’s food source, this has lead to many problems in a large number of countries.
It is extremely hard to kill the larval form of the Asian Long Horned Beetle, which has added to its
success as an invasive species.
The Asian Long Horned Beetle burrows deep into trees and leaves exit holes in many
locations throughout that weaken the integrity of infested trees and can eventually result in death
of massively infested trees (Becker, 2000). Larvae
are considered to be the most harmful because
they tunnel in the cambial region of wood. After a
tree has been subject to multiple generations of
the beetles, larval feeding can disrupt the tree's
vascular tissues, encourage fungal growth, and
cause structural faults, any of which has the
possibility of killing the tree. Adult Asian Long
Horned beetles are considered to be of lesser
importance since they generally feed on twigs,
foliage and occasionally on fruit-bearing trees. Asian long-horned beetles attack both healthy and
stressed trees, of any magnitude. Asian long-horned beetles are detrimental to any ecosystem
they inhabit. In China, approximately 40% of poplar plantations have been affected, meaning the
wood is good only for packing material (Favaro, 2015). In the Ningxia Province of China, more
than 50 million trees were destroyed over a three-year period because of the beetles (Favaro,
2015). With these affects on their native environment, these beetles have the ability to
significantly alter the composition of North American hardwood forests where they are not native
- 7. Eradication Attempts
The United States has put considerable resources, manpower and money into eradicating
and controlling the ALB. Well over 1,500 trees in Chicago have been cut down and destroyed to
eradicate ALB.. In New York, over 6,000 infested trees resulted in the removal of over 18,000
trees; New Jersey's infestation of over 700 trees lead to the removal and destruction of almost
23,000 trees, but infested trees continue to be discovered. 28,000 trees have been removed in
Worcester, MA because nearly 20,000 trees were confirmed to be infested with the Asian Long
Horned beetle (Favaro, 2015).
The United States Federal government
has been pushing for the eradication of this
species. If the species becomes established it
could have immense negative effects on natural
forests and urban environments, with an
estimated death of a total of 1.2 billion trees if it
spread nationwide (Favaro, 2015). For now
infestation is relatively limited, and as such it is believed that eradication efforts can be successful.
There are several methods for eradicating and preventing the spread of the beetle; these
steps include quarantine, insecticide treatments, follow-up data gathering, & shipping restrictions.
People have established quarantines around infested areas to prevent the accidental spread of the
Asian Long Horned Beetle. Then, infested trees are cut down, chipped and burned (Glader, 2014).
After the top of the tree has been completely destroyed, the stumps of infested trees are ground to
below the soil level (Glader, 2014). New York and Chicago began this extermination process in
1997 with thousands of dollars expended in an effort to complete the project (Glader, 2014).
- 8. Research is currently underway to determine the effectiveness of certain insecticides such
as Imidacloprid against ALB (Glader, 2014). Insecticidal treatments have begun in New York and
Chicago in hopes of preventing and containing infestations (Glader, 2014). Chicago's program of
Imidacloprid treatments for healthy trees of potential host species within a one-eighth to one-half
mile radius of infested trees successfully removed Illinois from quarantine in August 2006 (Glader,
2014). As of December 2006, New Jersey's policy was to cut down all healthy trees of the potential
host species within a one-eighth to one-quarter mile radius of infested trees (Glader, 2014). All
host trees on public and private property located within an established distance from an infested
area are surveyed for infestation by trained personnel. Infested areas are re-surveyed at least once
per year for three to five years after the last beetle or infested tree is found (Glader, 2014).
The use of Solid Wood Packing Materials (SWPM) for maritime shipping is regulated for
adequate treatment methods at certain ports. US customs regulations were changed on
September 18, 1998 to require wooden packing materials from China to be chemically treated or
kiln-dried to prevent further infestations of the Asian long-horned beetle from arriving (Jiafu,
2009). Pest inspection, new rules, and public awareness programs are the key steps to prevention
of the spread of the Asian long-horned beetle. Even individually, one can play an important part
by making sure that you are not helping to transport one of these beetles if traveling though an
infested area by checking your car for one hitching a ride., Never pick up and transport any
infected wood no matter how intriguing the holes in it look (Ciampitti, 2014).
- 10. Works Cited
Becker, H. (2000). Asian Long Horned Beetles. Agricultural Research, 48(6), 18.
Ciampitti, M., & Cavagna, B. (2014). Public awareness: a useful tool for the early detection and a
successful eradication of the longhorned beetles Anoplophora chinensis and A.
glabripennis. EPPO Bulletin, 44(2), 248-250.
Dodds, K. J., Hull-Sanders, H. M., Siegert, N. W., & Bohne, M. J. (2014). Colonization of Three Maple
Species by Asian Longhorned Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, in Two Mixed-Hardwood
Forest Stands. Insects (2075-4450), 5(1), 105-119.
Faccoli, M., Favaro, R., Smith, M. T., & Wu, J. (2015). Life history of the Asian longhorn beetle
Anoplophora glabripennis ( Coleoptera Cerambycidae) in southern Europe. Agricultural &
Forest Entomology, 17(2), 188-196.
Favaro, R., Wichmann, L., Ravn, H. P., & Faccoli, M. (2015). Spatial spread and infestation risk
assessment in the Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Entomologia
Experimentalis Et Applicata, 155(2), 95-101.
Gaag, D. J., & Loomans, A. M. (2014). Host plants of Anoplophora glabripennis, a review. EPPO
Bulletin, 44(3), 518-528.
Glader, P. (2014). Considered Won, Fight Vs. Beetles Is Renewed. New York Times. p. A19.
Jiafu, H., Angeli, S., Schuetz, S., Youqing, L., & Hajek, A. E. (2009). Ecology and management of
exotic and endemic Asian longhorned beetle Anoplophora glabripennis. Agricultural &
Forest Entomology, 11(4), 359-375.
Sjöman, H., Östberg, J., & Nilsson, J. (2014). Review of Host Trees for the Wood-Boring Pests
Anoplophora glabripennis and Anoplophora chinensis: An Urban Forest Perspective.
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry, 40(3), 143-164.
