Asian Longhorned Beetle: Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) Asiatischer Laubholzbockkäfer

Native to:
Asia (China), Korea, Taiwan, (Japan ?)

Introduced in :
North America (USA; New York, 1996, Illinois, Chicago, 1998)

Outbreak in Austria (Braunau):
For the first time identified in the EPPO Region and Europe

Host Tree Species:
In China: Populus-species, P.nigra, P.deltoides, and other poplar species, Salix spp., Acer, Alnus, Malus, Morus, Platanus, Prunus, Pyrus, Robinia, Sosa, Sophora, Ulmus
In the USA: especially Acer und Aesculus hippocastanum, Betula, Fraxinus, Liriodendron, Morus, Populus, Salix, Ulmus

Beetle Identification:
black with about 20 irregularly distributed white spots, long antennae banded black-and-white (males 2.5 times the length of the body, females approx. 1.3 times) they have 11 segments and a blue base.

Flight Activity:
June-end of September/October, swarming peak in July. According to other studies, these beetles are not good flyers, but we have observed that the ALB is able to fly a few hundred meters without, and even more with the help of a wind stream.

Biology:
Adult females lay approx. 30 eggs in oviposition sites that they make on the branches of trees and at the stem in eastern direction if the tree is already stressed. After 2 weeks the larvae hatch and eat their way under the bark down into the centre of the tree. Development of larvae takes1-2 years. Larvae go through 11 stages and are 5 cm long and 1 cm thick, no legs, cream colour , with dark light blue forehead plate.

Infestation Symptoms:
Egg-laying sites may be recognised as bark scars at the stem or where branches meet the main stem. Later on sap flows (exudate) running down trunks and branches from egg-laying sites as the larvae feed inside the tree. Damage by larvae: piles of coarse "saw dust" around the base of trees or on bark scars. Trees may still have green foliage while the beetle has already emerged from the trees. In the case of heavy attack wilting and of vitality loss (defoliation signs, yellowing), often followed by decline of the tree.

Inside the wood:
Wood cuts reveal enormous galleries (1-3cm in diameter) in the heartwood and in the crown; decline of the whole tree, round emergence holes (about 1-1,5cm in diameter). After having hatched beetles inhabit the crown - maturation feeding in leaves and young bark

Danger of Break:
Larvae and decay reduce timber resistance, the result is branch or stem break.