The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is an invasive insect that feeds on certain species of hardwood trees, eventually killing them. The ALB most likely came to the United States inside wood packing material from Asia. Since it was first discovered in Brooklyn, New York in 1996, the beetle has caused tens of thousands of trees to be destroyed in Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.

If the ALB were to become established here, it could become one of the most destructive and costly pests ever to enter the United States. If we don't find and stop the ALB, we'll lose more than trees. We'll lose industries worth billions of dollars - and wildlife habitats too. Our yards and neighborhoods will take decades to recover.

Spot the Beetle. Stop the Beetle.
One of the most important ways you can help stop the ALB is to look for it and report it . Adult beetles are most active during the summer and early fall. They can be seen on trees, branches, walls, outdoor furniture, cars, and sidewalks. While the ALB may appear threatening, it is harmless to humans and pets. With these unique characteristics, it's easy to identify the ALB:

- 1 to 1 ½ inches in length
- Long antennae banded in black and white (longer than the insect's body)
- Shiny, jet black body with distinctive white spots
- Six legs
- May have blue color on feet 

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Signs of Infestation
While it can fly, the beetle tends to lay eggs in the same tree from which it emerged as an adult. The eggs hatch and the larvae burrow and feed just under the bark. By the late summer and fall, the caterpillar-like larva tunnels deep into the tree. The following summer, the ALB drills its way out of the tree as a mature beetle. It bores through the tissues that carry water and nutrients throughout the tree, eventually starving and killing it. In addition to looking for the beetle, you can search for signs of infestation, including:

• Shallow divits in the bark where the eggs are laid
• Sap seeping from wounds in the tree
• Dime-sized (1/4" or larger), perfectly round exit holes in the tree
• Sawdust-like materials, called frass, on the ground and the branches

Battling the Beetle
Due to the huge threat this beetle poses to America's trees, Federal, State and local governments are taking steps to eradicate the beetle, including quarantining infested areas .

We need your help. Know all of the signs. Look for the beetle. Report it. And never move firewood - it may contain the beetle, its larvae or eggs. Humans can unknowingly transport it hundreds of miles in firewood. Cutting a tree into firewood does not kill all ALB developing inside it. Adult beetles can still emerge. The best approach is to burn firewood in the county where you get it. Learn more ways you can help .

REPORT IT

Contact Liz Lopes-Duguay

RI Dept of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908-5767
(401) 222-2781 ext. 4510

 Please be sure to include all of the following information:

• Your full name
• Your phone number
• The specific location of pest sighting
• A physical description of the pest
• A list indicating the types of trees/crops being damaged