Sign up for the iWire to get breaking news, event info and the species spotlight.
Chapter 9: Slide 4 of 16
ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE
Anoplophora glabripennis
This insect is a serious threat to many species of deciduous hardwood trees in the United States (e.g., maple, elm, willow, birch, horsechestnut, and poplar). During its larval stage, the ALB bores deep into a tree's heartwood, where it feeds on nutrients. This tunneling damages, and eventually kills, the tree. If the ALB were to become established here, it could be one of the most destructive and costly invasive species ever to enter the United States. It threatens urban and suburban shade trees and recreational and forest resources valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. It might also impact such industries as maple syrup production, hardwood lumber processing, nurseries, and tourism.
Read the species profile.
