Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplohora glabripennis) New 2/04

In early September 2003, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the first infestation of Asian longhorned beetle (ALHB) in Canada (in the Toronto(1) area). This is the second case in the past year of a species of foreign insect invading Ontario’s forests. In June 2002, the emerald ash borer (native to Asia) was responsible for the death of ash trees near Windsor. The infestation of ALHB likely came from wood packing material used to ship goods from Asia (China or Korea). One of the traits of the ALHB is that it is capable of surviving transport in wooden packaging, and upon arrival the beetles will emerge from the packaging and will make their way to nearby trees.

Why should we be concerned?

The introduction of ALHB is alarming news for woodlot owners across Ontario. The ALHB has no natural predators here to control its spread. Based on the ALHB experience in the US, this insect could thrive in the hardwood forests of southern Ontario. In addition, unlike many other forest pests that attack sick or declining trees, the ALHB will infest healthy trees. This is why the control and eradication of this pest is so important. Otherwise, we could see the forests of Ontario undergo a dramatic change.

Other ALHB Outbreaks in North America

The first reported sighting of this beetle in North America was in 1996 in Brooklyn. Other outbreaks have occurred in Chicago (1998) and in Jersey City, New Jersey (2002). In these locations, authorities took aggressive action to contain the infestation and eradicate the pest. In Ontario, the only previously known sighting of this pest was in 1998. At that time two live beetles were found in a warehouse in Waterloo.

To date, US authorities have been successful in containing their infestations and have eradicated the pest when it has been found. The success of their eradication efforts have depended on early detection, sufficient financial resources to respond to the issue, implementation of a cut, chip and removal program of infected trees, and in some cases the use of an insecticide that is licensed for application in the US.
Figure 1: Exit holes caused by the adult ALHB (photo by Rob Favrin, Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
ALHB Lifecycle

Young adult beetles emerge through large round exit holes (10-15 mm in diameter – see Figure 1) in the tree in July and August. They are capable of flying several hundred metres in search for a host tree; however; they will often attack the same tree from which they are hatched. The adults are active throughout the summer and feed on the bark of twigs and leaves. In preparation for egg laying, the female will chew an oval groove (10-15 mm in length) into the bark. These grooves may appear anywhere on the tree (branches, trunk or roots) and may be associated with dripping sap. Here the female will lay an egg measuring 7 to 10 mm in length. One female will lay 20 to 40 eggs during her lifetime. Eggs hatch in one to two weeks. Then the larvae will begin to feed in the phloem tissue of the tree (trunk and limbs), and as they mature will tunnel deeper into the tree. The larvae damage eventually will kill the tree (sometimes within one to two growing seasons). The ALHB has a one- to two-year life cycle (stages: egg, larvae, pupa, and adult) and can overwinter as an egg, larvae or pupa.

What to Look For

In the past, some woodlot owners have mistakenly identified another insect indigenous to North America, the whitespotted sawyer beetle (Moncohamus scutellatus), as the ALHB. However, once you take a look at the individual distinguishing features of these two beetles, you will see that there are a number of differences that clearly help to identify them. Table 1 provides a description of both insects.

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Table 1: Asian Longhorned Beetle vs. Whitespotted Sawyer
Description Asian Longhorned Beetle Whitespotted Sawyer Beetle
Hosts - Deciduous species (preferred hosts included maple, poplar, willow, elm, horse chestnut, mountain ash, sycamore, hackberry and birch). Conifers (recently cut, dying or stressed trees).
Description (adult) - Size - the adult measures 20 to 35 mm long.

- Antennae - consist of 11 segments that are black in colour with a white ring at the base of each segment.

- Colour - the carapace (shield covering its back) is glossy black with about 20 white spots. The scutellum (hard plate on the thorax) is black.		 - Size - the adult is smaller than the ALHB, measuring 15 to 28 mm long

- Antennae - are black (may have faint gray and black bands).

-Colour - the carapace is bronzy- black with white patches (female) and the male's is completely black. The scutellum is generally white.
Figure 2: Adult ALHB and galleries (photo from Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forestry Service)

What is Being Done

The CFIA is the lead agency (authorized under the Plant Protection Act) and is working in cooperation with local municipal authorities and other federal and provincial partners (Canadian Forest Service and Ministry of Natural Resources) in implementing a program to control and eradicate this pest.

Intensive surveys of the surrounding areas (encompassing over 17,000 ha) from where the insects have been found are ongoing to determine the full extent of the infestation. This includes a physical inspection of individual street and yard trees (branch by branch) within the area. A scientific committee (Canadian Forest Service, Ministry of Natural Resources, United States Department of Agriculture - US Forestry Service, etc.) has also been formed to provide technical input. Specific strategies on how to eradicate this pest are still being formulated and haven’t been announced.

What Can You Do

If you see this insect, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency office at 1-800-442-2342. To reduce the risk of spreading the beetle, residents in the area of infestation are being asked not to remove any tree materials from the area.

For more information on this pest, visit the CFIA Web site at <www.inspection.gc.ca>.
Footnotes

(1) The ALHB has been found in Toronto in an industrial area roughly bordered by Hwy. 407, Hwy. 400, Finch Avenue West and Islington Avenue. Survey crews found satellite infestation in the Ansley Grove Rd area in Woodbridge, Beechwood Cemetery, and in the Thisletown area of Toronto. (November 5, 2003).

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NEW!!!

Eradication Efforts Begin to Control Unwanted Visitors

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and its partners continue to do battle with the Asian longhorned beetle in Toronto. Here is an update on their efforts to contain and eradicate this invasive exotic pest.

Asian Longhorned Beetle

A series of recommendations have been developed by the CFIA for the containment and eradication of the Asian longhorned beetle (ALHB) infestation in Toronto. The main components of the strategy consist of a number of initiatives including:
All infected trees and any host1 tree within a 400-metre radius will be removed and destroyed.
A second outer 400-800 metre ring out from infected trees will be closely monitored. A request has been made to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for the registration of a new insecticide (imidacloprid). On an experiential trial basis, this insecticide may be applied to some host trees within this 400-800 metre outer ring.
As cutting crews remove infected trees, scientific data is collected to see if this particular ALHB infestation has similar traits as those infestations that have occurred in other counties. The information collected will be used to support further eradication activities and be added to the international science community’s pool of ALHB information.

Currently there are ten cutting crews working in the core area2 of the infestation, removing and destroying infected trees and any potential host tree within 400 metres. Infected trees are cut and moved to a CFIA sanctioned site for study and disposal. Host trees within the 400-metre zone are cut and chipped on site.

As of January 30, 2004, 1,800 trees had been removed from public lands and privately owned commercial properties. Work hasn’t yet begun on residential properties or in any of the satellite areas3. In total, it is estimated that there are 15,000 host trees within the main area of the infestation, and the CFIA expects the eradication project to be completed by mid-May.

Sentinel trees may be used as one of the monitoring devices to determine the success of the eradication program. Mono maple (Acer mono), a species native to China, is very appealing to the ALHB. By placing this species within the infestation zone it could be used to detect, capture and/or kill (if treated with insecticide) any remaining ALHB.

The recent announcement (February 19, 2004) by the Ministry of Natural Resources to allocate $1 million dollars for a tree-planting program to assist in the re-greening of the hardest hit areas affected by the Asian Longhorned Beetle and the emerald ash borer is good news and a positive first step. However, given the size and the area affected by these two pests, and the number of trees being destroyed, more funding will be needed to adequately replace tress on both public and private lands in these areas.

What Can Landowners Do?

The ALHB and EAB pose a serious threat to our forests. Should either of these pests become established, the economic toll would be devastating, and the impact on the health and biodiversity of Ontario’s forested landscape significant. The Ontario Woodlot Association has written to the Honourable Bob Spelling, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister, requesting that the Government of Canada work quickly to commit the necessary resources to contain and eradicate these pests and to engage the public’s cooperation through tree replacement programs. We are encouraging other groups and individuals to write to encourage the federal government to take this threat to our forests seriously.

One last word. Remember, if you believe that you have seen either of these two pests it is important that you report it to the CFIA by calling 1-800-442-2342. For more information on either the ALHB or EAB, visit the CFIA Web site at <www.inspection.gc.ca>.

Footnotes

1 The ALHB has an affinity for the following host trees, including the following species - maple, poplar, elm, willow, horse chestnut, mountain ash, sycamore, hackberry and birch.
2 The core area of infestation lies south of Hwy 407, east of Islington Avenue, west of Hwy 400, and north of Finch.
3 Three smaller satellite infestations have been found in the Ansley Grove Rd. area in Woodbridge, Beechwood Cemetery, and in the Thistletown area of Toronto.

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