Invertebrates
Asian Longhorned Beetle
Anoplophora glabripennis · also called ALB, starry sky beetle
Boring steadily into the solid wood of a perfectly healthy maple tree, an Asian longhorned beetle larva does damage that most wood-boring insects would never attempt, a habit that has made this glossy black, white-spotted beetle one of the most closely watched invasive pests in North America and Europe.
Overview
The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is native to forest habitat across China and Korea, with invasive populations now established in parts of North America and Europe. Its willingness to attack healthy hardwood trees, striking black-and-white colouring, and status as a serious economic threat make it one of the most consequential invasive insects of recent decades.
A pest that targets the healthy, not the weak
Most wood-boring beetles help clear away dead and dying trees, but the Asian longhorned beetle instead goes after healthy hardwoods directly, a habit that turns an otherwise unremarkable boring beetle into a genuine threat to entire forests and the industries that depend on them.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status; secure within its native range in China and Korea, while actively targeted for eradication wherever it has invaded.
Asian Longhorned Beetle: common questions
Why is the Asian longhorned beetle considered such a damaging pest?
Unlike many wood-boring beetles that prefer dead or dying wood, its larvae tunnel into and can eventually kill otherwise healthy hardwood trees, making it a serious threat to forests outside its native range.
How did the Asian longhorned beetle spread outside Asia?
It has been accidentally introduced to North America and Europe, most likely through wood packaging material, and has since established invasive populations that require active management to contain.
Why does the Asian longhorned beetle threaten the maple syrup industry?
Because maple trees are among its preferred hosts, widespread infestation and the resulting loss of maples poses a direct economic threat to regions that depend on maple syrup production.
How is the Asian longhorned beetle controlled where it has invaded?
Infestations typically trigger strict quarantines and the removal of infested trees, an aggressive response aimed at preventing further spread into surrounding forests.