The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is an invasive species originally native to eastern China and Korea that has become a serious pest of hardwood trees in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia outside its native range.
Book novelties:
Prioninae of the World I.
Cerambycidae of the Western Paleartic I.
Introduction and Spread:
The beetle was first detected at ports of entry on the east coasts of the United States and Canada in 1992 but was initially eradicated before spreading. The first established population outside Asia was found in New York City in 1996. Since then, infestations have been reported in several U.S. states including New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts, as well as in Canada and European countries such as Austria, France, Germany, and Italy.
Asian longhorned beetle invasive species
Pathway of Invasion:
The primary mode of introduction has been the transport of larvae or pupae inside solid wood packing materials like pallets and crates from Asia. In rare cases, shipments of live plants have also been implicated. This pathway allowed the beetle to hitchhike across continents and establish populations in new areas.
Impact as an Invasive Species:
ALB larvae bore into and feed on the living tissue of a wide variety of hardwood trees, especially maples, but also elms, willows, birches, and others. This feeding damages and eventually kills trees, causing significant ecological and economic harm. In the U.S., it is estimated that ALB could potentially destroy about 30% of urban trees and cause economic losses up to $669 billion. The beetle can alter forest and urban ecosystems by killing large numbers of trees.
Management Efforts:
Due to the severity of the threat, aggressive eradication programs have been implemented, including quarantines, removal and destruction of infested trees, and regulations requiring treatment of wood packaging materials to prevent further spread. Early detection and monitoring are critical to controlling outbreaks.
In summary, the Asian longhorned beetle is a highly destructive invasive species introduced mainly through untreated wood packaging material from Asia, causing widespread damage to hardwood trees in North America and Europe, with ongoing efforts to eradicate and contain its spread.
