Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora
glabripennis)
The Asian Longhorned Beetle has been found in New Jersey!
In October of 2002 the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was detected in Jersey City. A 1.5-square mile quarantine area was established around the site, which included parts of Jersey City and Hoboken. Since 2005 the quarantine has been lifted and the ALB eradicated from the Jersey City find. In August of 2004 the ALB was discovered in the Borough of Carteret, NJ, and since then detected in the surrounding communities of Linden, Rahway and Woodbridge. A 25 square mile quarantine area has been established around parts of the affected communities and parts of Elizabeth, Clark and Roselle. Most recently additional ALB detections were found in Staten Island in March of 2007 across from Linden, NJ. The USDA is coordinating quarantine, survey, and removal efforts throughout New Jersey and the New Jersey Forest Service is reforesting the affected areas. To date, the New Jersey Forest Service has planted 4,968 trees in Carteret, Linden, Rahway and Woodbridge. Cities and towns across the United States are on the lookout for ALB. While the ALB has mainly caused destruction in Chicago and New York City, it is now causing destruction in New Jersey and, every town has to be aware that the potential for infestation is possible and early detection is our only means to try and combat this serious pest.
 ALB
Appearance:
Size: 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long
Color: Glossy jet black body with white spots on its back that may have a blue or yellow tint.
Antennae:1 1/2 to 2 1/2 times its body length with distinctive black and white bands on each segment that may have a bluish-white tint
Legs: also may have a bluish-white tint |
 ALB
Emergence Holes:
Exit holes made by the adult Asian Longhorned Beetle
are about 3/8 inch in diameter or larger.
They resemble a perfectly drilled hole.
Photos courtesy of the USDA Forest Service.
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HISTORY
The ALB is a native of Asia but immigrated to North America
via wood packing material from China. The beetle has been
intercepted at
ports throughout the United States
WHAT TREES WILL THE ALB ATTACK?
The preferred hosts of the ALB are maple trees, but it will
also attack willows, poplars, ash, horsechestnuts, elm, and
buckeye trees.
WHY SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ASIAN LONGHORNED
BEETLE IN NEW JERSEY?
Maple trees comprise over thirty percent of the street tree
population in New Jersey alone. With an infestation,
we could lose nearly half the trees that line our streets
and highways. In addition, six warehouses in New Jersey, have
already been quarantined because crates imported from China
were infested. The six warehouses are in Camden, Cream Ridge,
Linden, Mahwah, New Brunswick, and Secaucus.
A ground survey was done in each area and as of yet the Asian
Longhorned Beetle has not been detected, however the threat
is real.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU SEE AN ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE?
Record the exact location of where you saw the beetle or signs
of the beetle. If necessary mark/flag the infested tree. If
you have an actual specimen put it in a tight jar. You can
then put it in the freezer until someone can inspect it. The
freezing will kill the beetle but preserve it for identification.
MOST IMPORTANT: CONTACT THE NJ FOREST SERVICE OR THE USDA
FOREST SERVICE IN YOUR AREA
For more information on the Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness
Project in New Jersey or if you would like to receive some
information packages to spread the awareness, please contact:
New Jersey Forest Service
501 East State Street
PO Box 404
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-2532
E-mail:Asian
Longhorned Beetle Awareness Project
Other Asian Longhorned Beetle links:
United States
Department of Agriculture-ALB WEBSITE
University of Vermont-ALB
WEBSITE
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