Asian Longhorned Beetle
By Andrea Peck
Out west, we have drought, but on the east coast, there is this giant beetle. I guess, giant is probably an overstatement, but the female does grow to 1.5” in length and that's before she puts on her antennae. The Asian longhorned beetle is native to China and Korea. As bugs often will, it found its way to America. Probably, the Founding Father Bug was a stowaway inside a box of inexpensive children's toys. The beetle is black and white and polished to a high sheen, not unlike a small child's toy. Actually, a little rugged child would probably be more interested in this live plaything than a toy. Of course, the parents of that rapscallion likely disposed of Mr. Original Beetle in their compost—only a bug's jump away from the backyard maple tree.
The reason this dressed-up beetle is newsworthy is because it has an insidious propensity for hole-boring. The beetle begins its descent into the tree through the bark, deep into the wood and finally rests inside the center or hardwood. It loves the maple tree, but will settle for a whole host of others, such as elm, willow, mountain ash, birch, poplar, katsura, mimosa, hackberry, London plane tree and horse chestnut. You can imagine how Mr. Shiny Pants is breaking down the maple syrup industry. According to a Youtube video I watched, the dime-sized holes can fit your average pen – they are that large, and dare I say, handy.
Unfortunately, trees with holes eventually become structurally unsound. If there is someone in the forest, the tree falls with a loud bang. If no one is there, it still falls.
The USDA is quite concerned. According to their estimation, 30% (1.2 billion trees) of the trees in the U.S. could be lost if this creature is not corralled. Because the bug hides deep within the confines of the tree, eradication can be difficult. This great thing about this beetle –for the beetle, that is—is that it can fly. In fact, when it is searching for a new host, it is capable of flying over 3,000 feet (1000 meters). Beetles in search of a new home sometimes hitch a ride in infested packing material and firewood. Yet, one more reason not to move firewood! Currently, three states, Massachusetts, New York and Ohio are actively fighting the bug, while surrounding states are considered high risk. According to the USDA, the entire U.S. is susceptible to invasion.
We are pretty far away from the hullaballoo, but if you see a spiffy-looking beetle, let the authorities know.
The Asian longhorned beetle travels, after all.