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Asian Long-horned Beetle

The Asian Long-horned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) has been discovered in Chicago, New York and now near Toronto. This insect attacks healthy hardwood trees including maples. The Ministry of Natural Resources is asking the public to be on the lookout for this beetle, which is a major pest throughout much of China.

Symptoms of infestation (from Federation of Ontario Naturalists)

• Oval wounds in the bark, approximately 10-15 mm across (the result of adult females chewing a groove in the bark into which she will lay an egg). The wounds may occur anywhere on the tree, including branches, trunk, and exposed roots
• Dripping sap is often seen to be flowing from the egg-laying wounds
• Large, round holes (10-15 mm diameter) created by the newly emerging adults
• Piles of coarse sawdust around the base of the tree and in branch axils; Adult beetles feed on the leaves, bark and branch tips.

Description of the beetle (from Federation of Ontario Naturalists)

• Six legs
• Large shiny black body (35 mm long and 12 mm wide maximum size) with up to 20 white dots
• Adults have two long antennae composed of 11 segments. Each segment is black with a whitish ring at the base.

More information about the Asian Long-horned Beetle:

• Eastern Ontario Model Forest action plan for dealing with ALHB
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Science Branch (latest information)
  Contact:
  Ken Marchant
  174 Stone Rd W
  Guelph ON  N1G 4S9
  Telephone: (519) 837-9400
  Fax: (519) 837-9783
  E-mail: marchantk@inspection.gc.ca
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources — Forest Health Alert including: What is the threat; Adult, larva, and pupa recognition; Life cycle; What trees does it attack; Symptoms and damage; What to look for; What is being done
• University of Vermont maintains an excellent site on Asian Longhorned Beetles with a wealth of information including descriptions, biology and photos of the insect, a list of host trees, infestations and how they are being managed, current news, research, and links to other sites

updated 23 August 2005