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Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

Pinned ALB adult: Pest and Diseases Image Library_Bugwood
 
Pinned ALB adult: Pest and Diseases Image Library_Bugwood
Pinned sample of the black, white spotted adult ALB, showing long antennae.
Asian longhorn beetle is NOT currently found in North Dakota.

ALB is...

...a recent and potentially serious threat to some of North America’s most beautiful and popular trees. Native to parts of Asia, the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is believed to have arrived in North America in the wooden packing material used in cargo shipments from China. 

Isolated Asian longhorned beetle infestations have been discovered in parts of New York City, Chicago, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Ohio.  In all instances where Asian longhorned beetles have been found, early detection has allowed the proper authorities to act quickly and implement control measures. 

Why is ALB a problem?

  • Due to ALB's broad host range, a significant percentage of tree resources would be put at risk if the pest was introduced to North Dakota.
  • ALB is known to have very few natural predators native to North America.
  • Currently there is no known effective chemical control for ALB.

What would be the major impacts of an ALB infestation in North Dakota?

  • ALB infestation in an urban area could potentially lead to huge economic impacts as urban trees are lost and replaced.
  • ALB could potentially cause significant canopy loss in many of North Dakota's native forests, leading to unknown associated ecological impacts.
  • ALB has the potential to adversely impact conservation plantings, as well as landscape plantings in urban and rural settings. 

 

Preferred hosts of ALB include a wide variety of species. Maples are among the favorite hosts of ALB, as are buckeye, birch, willow and elm, while ash, mountain-ash and poplars have served as occasional hosts. In all cases of infestation, the affected trees are cut down and the wood is destroyed by burning it or it is buried.

The adults are large bluish-black beetles (roughly 1 to 1.5 inches in length) with white spots and very long black- and white-banded antennae (up to 10 cm in length). The larvae and pupae are normally inside the tree within the larval tunnels. Full-grown larvae can reach 2 inches in length. Piles of sawdust can be seen at branch junctions and around the base of trees in which larvae have been feeding. Click here to view the ALB life cycle.

 

More information about ALB: USDA APHIS | Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)

An ALB host list can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/downloads/hostlist.pdf 

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