The Asian longhorned beetle has the makings of a disaster pest poster — a wide possible geographic and climatic range, a number of host trees, and few control options. Lucky for us, it just doesn’t seem to spread far on its own. There are biocontrol and predator options, but nothing is ideal, or especially effective. At this time, there isn’t much we can do other than chop down and chip infested trees.

Related Research:

• “New York's Battle with the Asian Longhorned Beetle” (1997)
• “Mapping of the Asian Longhorned Beetle’s Time to Maturity and Risk to Invasion at Contiguous United States Extent” (2017)
• National ALB Program Overview (2018)

Scientists:

• Melody Keena, Research Entomologist, Northern Research Station, Hamden, Connecticut
• Talbot Trotter, Research Ecologist, Northern Research Station, Hamden, Connecticut

Produced by the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station.

Want more information? Visit us at https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/nrs/products/multimedia/podcasts/forestcast-season-1-balance-and-barrier-episode-5-hornless-asian

Questions or ideas for the show? Connect with Jon at: jonathan.yales@usda.gov