THE ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE HAS Hit NYC

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is fairly large in size, it ranges from 0.75-1.25 inches long, with really long black and white antennae. The body is shiny black with irregular white spots. These beetles munch on many different species of hardwood trees. The adults can usually be found from late spring to fall depending on the climate and weather. This beetle was imported from China and is now limited to areas within the cities of Chicago and New York.

The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a new and potentially vital threat to some of North America’s most exquisite and popular trees. Originally from Asia, the beetle is thought to have come in to North America in the wooden packing material used in cargo shipments from China.

Remote Asian Longhorned Beetle infestations have been found in parts of Brooklyn, Long Island, New York City, and in Chicago, Illinois. On all occasions where Asian Longhorned Beetles have been found, authorities have reacted immediately to stop the infestation from spreading.

The Asian Longhorn Beetle mainly prefer maple trees, but we have discovered infestations in horsechestnut trees, poplars, willows, elms, mulberries and black locusts. We have not yet found any known chemical or biological protection against the Asian Longhorned Beetle and, in North America, they do not have many natural predators. In every case of infestation, the trees that were affected are cut down and the wood destroyed.

The destruction of this Asian Longhorned beetle is very extreme. The way that they cause this damage is by beetle larvae which tunnel deep within a tree to feed on its food and water conducting vessels. By continuously feeding on this it causes structural defects and ultimately destroys the life-sustaining cambial layer by girdling. when these beetles mature they then burrow out of the tree leaving holes the diameter of ball-point pens.

The infestation of an adult Asian Longhorned beetle will kill a healthy tree. Adult beetles surface from trees starting in late May. This lasts through October with a frequency peaking in July. The infestation of trees can be detected by looking for tell-tale exit holes 3/8 to ¾ inches in diameter (1.5-2 cm) usually in the larger branches of the crowns of infested trees. Most of the time sap can be seen oozing out from the exit holes with coarse sawdust or ‘frass’ in evidence on the ground or lower branches.

If you spot the presence of the Asian Longhorned Beetles, please contact our local forestry officials immediately so that they may take steps to contain the outbreak. Unfortunately, the only way currently known to combat the Asian Longhorned Beetle is to destroy the infested trees. But, while cutting down mature trees is a tragedy, we will take any measures possible to stop this new menace from spreading.

If you ever have any bug related questions feel free to call us either at Beyond Pest Control. Once again, and I can’t stress this enough we are on call twenty four hours a day seven days a week to kill those bugs, we aren’t kidding whether you call us at 9 am or midnight we will be available to take your call and either get rid of the bug infestation, or answer any questions you may have concerning the bug issue. I can honestly guarantee that there will be someone to answer that call. We make it our business to make you bug free!

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Beyond Pest Control.

Our pest control specialists service all NYC boroughs, including Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Long Island (both Nassau & Suffolk counties), Staten Island and even both Westchester & Rockland counties.