There is a new enemy that is terrorizing America – a bite-sized insect that can take down entire trees! Here’s how the Asian Longhorned Beetle found its way here, and why it is so dangerous.
“Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”
When Lazarus wrote these words, little did he know that the Asian Longhorn Beetle would also one day heed the call!
Hide your trees and do your best to keep them from the Asian Longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis).
This wood-boring beetle arrived in America in the 90s and has since wreaked absolute havoc on hardwood trees like oak, teak, and mahogany.
But how did it get here, and why is the government so afraid of this tiny bug? Let’s find out.
Where Is The Asian Longhorn Beetle From?
The shiny black adult beetle with some irregularly shaped white spots and rather long antennae (hence the name longhorn) on its body is native to China and Korea, both Asian countries.
It is also present in other parts of Asia, such as Japan and the Indian subcontinent.
It devoured numerous species of trees, such as poplars, sugar maples, elms, and mulberries, in its homeland. In America, it has found a whole new set of trees to take over.
Where Was It Found in the US?
In the United States, this beetle first came to be known when it was found quite literally taking the life out of ornamental trees in major urban centers like Chicago and New York City.
Since 1996, detections of this exotic species have been made across most states located in the Northeast United States and California.
The Asian Longhorned Beetle was again discovered in Chicago in 1998 and in Jersey City, NJ, in 2002. It made its way to Middlesex and Union counties, New Jersey, in 2004.
Two years later, the insect had already been found touring Staten Island and Prall’s island in the Hudson River.
Fast forward two years and the Asian longhorned beetle reached Worcester and the urban and rural forests of Massachusetts too. In 2011, the beetle was yet again found in Tate Township, Ohio.
In 2020, these beetles were detected in South Carolina.
How Did The Asian Longhorn Beetle Become Invasive?
The beetle is originally found in Asian countries such as Korea and China.
But these wood-hollowing insects traveled from these countries to America by conveniently boarding cargo shipments from China.
They snuck into wood pallets and wood packing materials in these shipments and found their way into the United States.
Unfortunately, the wood used for these boxes and packaging material was untreated, which made it easy for the bugs to hide in them.
In a couple of years, their presence had spread throughout North America like an uncontrollable wildfire.
Why Is There So Much Fuss About This Species?
The Asian longhorned beetle is an Asian native, and yet, it has successfully established itself in America. It has firmly put its legs into the major cities of the continent and refuses to budge.
The larvae of the female beetles devour the wood of trees, their stems, branches, and roots.
They create long galleries inside the tree that eventually snuff out its life. These tunnels hollow the tree out from the inside, leaving nothing but a shell that even a slow wind can take down.
From egg to adult, its life stages take one to three years. Adult beetles come out from trunks and branches by eating their way out and leaving behind enormous, circular holes (0.2-0.5 inches in diameter).
As the insect is new to America, nature has not evolved any natural predators for it here.
The trees in America are ill-prepared to adapt and survive against this species. The damage caused to trees can cause branches to break off or the foundation of trees to give way and fall on unsuspecting pedestrians and cars nearby.
It has become an issue of public security, and despite the hard work put in by many scientists, agencies, and the USDA forest service, the efforts are still on.
The only solution, for now, is to chop off the infested trees.
Economic Impact of Its Infestation
Street and backyard trees have been severely affected by these beetles.
With no proper solution in sight (except perhaps prevention), the infested trees have been removed, destroyed, or replaced at whopping prices (around $100 per infestation).
For example, in New York, damage to maple trees can lead to a catastrophic impact on the maple syrup industry, leading to billions of dollars in damages.
If these beetles are allowed to expand beyond their current range into national forests, it could have dire consequences for the whole economy since they could hollow out millions of acres of hardwood trees.
With the cumulative negative impact on the export of various hardwood-made products and eradication and containment costs, these beetles could single-handedly deliver a mighty blow to the American economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Asian long-horned beetle come from
The long-horned beetle is an exotic species commonly found in Asian countries like China, Korea, and Japan.
It has easily acclimated itself to the American weather and continues to establish itself in the major cities of the continent.
Efforts are on to find a way to eradicate this pest, or at least contain the menace to the cities where it has established itself.
How did the Asian longhorned beetle get to California?
It all started with unchecked wooden cargo shipments from China. These beetles bored holes inside the untreated wooden packing materials and reached the shores of America safely.
Initially, they were discovered in New York City, but soon they were detected in California too, and they are now present in many urban centers.
How does the Asian longhorned beetle travel?
The Asian longhorn beetle usually spends its entire life inside the host tree, which it infests. However, it does have wings in its adult stage and can fly a good distance if needed.
Flying or else infesting wood packing materials are the two ways through which it has been spreading across America.
Can long-horned beetles fly?
Yes, the Asian longhorned beetle can fly up to 8.5 miles if it is well-fed and strong. Their average flight distance, however, is around 1.4 miles.
This is another major problem why we are not able to stop this insect from spreading quickly and are ending up having to destroy entire trees to contain it.
Wrap Up
The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a wanderlust at heart. America, for sure, is ticked off its bucket list. Who can blame these beetles for wanting to live the American Dream?
These insects spell doom for trees and, for now, are seemingly invincible. When will a tangible solution come up? When will our trees be free of these pests? The answers are not yet known.
But hopefully, their reign of terror will soon be over.
Reader Emails
Asian longhorned beetles have been a subject of excitement among bug lovers ever since their destructive capabilities came to be known in America.
There have been relatively few sightings of these beetles here, but we are sharing some pics from our readers.
Letter 1 – Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle in Japan
Name our beetle in Japan? Hi! We are living in Kawatana, Japan on Kyushu island. This beetle was on our front porch on the 4th of July. He was approximately 2 1/2 inches long. We’d love to identify him! We are seeing so many new insects since we’ve been here. I have used your site to identify ONE of the many types of centipedes we have here, the house centipede. Hopefully I can catch a few more on camera to send to you. They move quickly though! …Thanks for your help! Rachel 
Hi Rachel, We are very happy your report is coming to us from Japan and not from the U.S. This is an Asian Longhorned Beetle or Starry Sky Beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis. Now that you know that, you will be able to find much information online including Wikipedia which reports the Asian Longhorned Beetle, which is called the Sky Oxen in China: “is native to China and other areas of eastern Asia, where it causes widespread mortality of poplar ,willow ,elm , and maple trees.” The Amazing Insects site reports: “Asian longhorned beetles is widely distributed in China, and in Japan and Korea Once introduced into an area, people unintentionally spread the beetle by cutting or trimming an infested tree and moving the wood elsewhere. To date, the Asian longhorned beetle has been found at 26 scattered warehouse and residential sites in 14 States around the country, including Cincinnati, Ohio. The only Asian longhorned beetle infestations of living trees are at Brooklyn, NY, Amityville, NY, and three neighborhoods in the Chicago, IL area.” The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Forest Site reports: “The Asian Longhorned Beetle, also known as the Asian Cerambycid Beetle, was first discovered in the United States in 1996, when it was found attacking maple and horsechestnut trees in New York City. Recently, three Chicago area infestations have also been detected, heightening concern among forest health professionals about the threat posed by this non-native pest. This beetle, known by the scientific name Anoplophora glabripennis, is native to Japan, Korea, and southern China. In Ohio, the insect has been found associated with solid wood packing and crating materials, however, an infestation of living host trees has never been detected in the state. ” If our readership sees this beetle in the U.S. it should be reported to the local office of the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or USDA APHIS.
Letter 2 – Asian Longhorned Beetle or related species from Hong Kong
Bug from Hong Kong Tai po Location: Tai Po, Hong Kong July 10, 2011 3:24 pm Hi my uncle found this in his house, and i wanted to know what this was 
Signature: Nathan W
Letter 3 – Probably White Spotted Sawyer, NOT Asian Longhorned Beetle
Subject: Aisan Longhorn beetle? Location: Ontario, Canada June 19, 2013 2:36 pm Just a couple of days ago I found this bug on my deck. I know southern Ontario has been battling with the Aisan longhorn beetle for about 10 years… I am waiting for a call back from the Canadian food inspection agency who has been dealing with the problem bugs… However I found that in April of this year it was announced they had finally erraticated the bug. I hope this isn’t one but I’d like to know if it is or isn’t and if it isn’t what kind is it? Thank you in advance Signature: Cassandra Nieves
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