About the Asian Longhorned Beetle

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), the "Asian Longhorned Beetle," was introduced into New York City in 1996 from China. Since its initial discovery it has been found in Chicago (1998), Jersey City, N.J. (2002) and now in Carteret N.J. (2004).

The Asian Longhorned Beetle feeds on a wide range of hardwood trees including several species of maples, popular, alder, birch, horsechestnut and willow. Larvae live under the bark of trees where they feed on the bark, phloem and xylem and will eventually kill the tree.

Adult females can lay up to 160 eggs on the branches of trees from July to October. Ten to fifteen days after being laid the larvae hatch, bore into the tree and feed and develop until they emerge from the tree as adults the following summer. Typically, Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations are detected through visual observation of adult activity or the appearance of emergence holes on trees.

For more information please see the USDA Pest Alert on Asian Longhorned Beetle (in English or Spanish).