DEC warns of Asian Longhorned Beetles

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — There are two species of beetles that can be found throughout New York State. The first being the Native Whitespotted Pine Sawyer, which is native to the state. The other being the Asian Longhorned Beetle.

“The Asian Longhorned Beetle is an invasive insect from Asia that attacks and kills hardwood trees, particularly maples,” says Jessica Cancelliere, who is a research scientist with the New York State DEC.

Although the beetle attacks and kills hardwood trees, they pose no threat to humans. The beetle doesn’t kill the tree initially; it will happen over a period of time.

“When the beetle attacks a tree, the larva stage of the insect spores into the tree and creates sort of like a tunneling action, and that goes through the tree’s tissues,” Cancelliere says.

This essentially stops the tree from receiving nutrients over time, therefore killing the tree. Luckily, the beetle is very easy to identify but people are more likely to see the tree damage rather than the insect itself.

“You mostly want to look for, well the big one is big exit holes in the tree. When the beetle finally emerges as an adult, it leaves a perfectly round, pencil diameter size exit hole,” says Cancelliere.

Although you can’t save a tree once the exit holes are marked, you are still encouraged to report it to the DEC to try and prevent other trees from dying in that neighborhood. These beetles could also spread through firewood.

“This beetle is very readily spread in firewood and in NYS, we have firewood regulations to prevent people from moving firewood that has not been treated long-distances,” says Cancelliere.

Click here to learn more about the Asian Longhorned Beetle or have an area of concern.

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