The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB) is native to China and Korea. Adults are large (3/4 - 1 ½ inches long) with very long, black and white banded antennae. The body is glossy black with irregular white spots. The beetle is a serious pest of many hardwood trees, such as maple, elm and ash. Adults can be seen from late spring to fall depending on the climate. Signs of an infection include tree dieback, yellowing or browning of leaves and epicormic sprouting.

Asian Longhorned Beetles are believed to have been introduced into the United States from wood pallets and other wood packing material accompanying cargo shipments from Asia. The beetle infestation in New York spread to Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan. In 1998, a separate introduction of the beetle was discovered on trees in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Beetles were also detected in two separate New Jersey locations - in Jersey City in 2002 and in Middlesex/Union counties in 2004. In 2007, ALB was found on Staten and Prall’s Island in New York. Most recently, beetles were detected in Worcester, Massachusetts in August 2008.

This insect has not been detected in VT.

Additional Resources:

• VT Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation
• National Agricultural Pest Information System
• Beetle Busters
• UVM Entomology
• APHIS Factsheet
• Asian Longhorned Beetle or White Spotted Sawyer?
• USDA APHIS
• US Forest Service
• City of Worcester, MA ALB info

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