Beetle Beware!

In August 2008 a Worcester, MA resident discovered the exotic, invasive insect Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) in her neighborhood. Since the discovery, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Massachusetts state agencies, and the City of Worcester have embarked on an effort to eradicate the beetle from the city of Worcester and four surrounding communities. The Asian longhorned beetle is a wood-boring Cerambycid with a wide-ranging appetite. It is a serious pest and many of its preferred host trees include common trees of northeastern forests and urban and suburban landscapes: maples, birches, elms, willows, and horsechestnuts.

The Asian longhorned beetle is a large, distinctive shiny black insect with irregular white spots, white and black banded antennae that are at least as long as the body, and blue and black leg segments. In summer, the beetles emerge from trees through round exit holes 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch diameter. These exit holes are characteristic of Asian longhorned beetles.

If you think you have seen this insect, please report it to the Massachusetts Pest Alert Hotline 1-866-702-9938 or online at http://www.massnrc.org/pests/albreport.aspx

For more information visit these sources:

UMass Extension Asian longhorned beetle web resource

USDA-APHIS, Plant Pest Information, Asian longhorned beetle

USDA-APHIS, Asian longhorned beetle news

City of Worcester Asian longhorned beetle page

Massachusetts Introduced Pest Outreach Project

Worcester Telegram & Gazette Asian longhorned beetle section

University of Vermont/USDA Asian longhorned beetle information page

Umass Extension Highlight