Asian Longhorned Beetle - Questions and Answers

Q.1 What is the Asian Long-horned Beetle?

The Asian Longhorned beetle (ALHB), Anoplophora glabripennis, is an invasive quarantine insect native to Asia known to attack and kill healthy trees.

Q.2 What trees in Canada are susceptible to the Asian Long-horned Beetle?

The majority of Canadian broadleaf trees are at risk from this insect, including all species of maple as well as elm, poplars and willow. Evergreen or coniferous trees are not attacked by ALHB.

Q.3 Where has Asian Long-horned Beetle been detected in Canada and when was it found?

The CFIA confirmed the introduction of ALHB in a concentrated area of an urban industrial park located in Woodbridge and Toronto, Ontario in September 2003. The beetle has subsequently been found in the area of Toronto - Vaughan. All infested trees have been removed, along with all susceptible trees in a 400-metre radius. The area is now regulated to prevent the spread of the pest.

Q.4 How was the Asian Long-horned Beetle introduced into Canada?

The ALHB is one of many insect pests capable of surviving transport in wood and wood packaging materials. On arrival, pests contained within the wood may emerge and move to local host trees to feed and complete their life cycles.

The CFIA has implemented strict import policies to regulate wood packaging and wood products. The CFIA also supports the adoption of a international standard created by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to reduce the plant health risks associated with wood packaging used in trade.

Q.5 How does Asian Long-horned Beetle kill infested trees?

ALHB larvae feed within the trunk and limbs of trees and eventually riddle the trees with holes, causing them to die. In some situations, mature trees may be killed in one or two growing seasons.

The adult beetles can also feed on leaves, bark and shoots, causing considerable damage to the tree.

Q.6 Has the Asian Long-horned Beetle been found in other countries outside of Asia?

Infestations have been found in Austria and the United States including New York (1996), Illinois (1998) and New Jersey (2002 & 2004) and have resulted in the removal and destruction of over 5000 trees. Millions of dollars have been spent on the required surveys and control programs.

Q.7 What does the Asian Long-horned Beetle look like?

Adult beetle: six legs, large shiny black body (35 mm long and 12 mm wide maximum size) with up to 20 white dots. The adult has two long antennae composed of 11 segments. Each segment is black with a whitish ring at the base.

There are native beetles that look similar to ALHB such as the White-spotted Sawyer.

Electronic images are available on the CFIA website (www.inspection.gc.ca) or on printed pest pamphlets from a local CFIA office.

Q.8 What is the life cycle of the Asian Long-horned Beetle?

The ALHB has a one to two year life cycle with four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult beetle. The beetle can overwinter in Canada as an egg, larva or pupa. An adult will generally emerge in July and August and live as late as the first frost. The life stages may be delayed due to variable climatic conditions.

Q.9 What are the signs and symptoms of a tree attacked by Asian Long-horned Beetle?

Emerging adults signs: The emerging adult beetles will chew their way out of the tree, leaving large round holes (9 - 11 mm) in the branches and trucks of trees.

Egg laying: Oval-shaped wounds can be found on the tree where the female beetles have chewed through the bark to lay their eggs. These wounds may also produce dripping sap.

Feeding damage by adults: Adult beetles feed on the leaves, bark and branch tips.

Feeding damage by larvae: Coarse sawdust may be found at the base of trees and where the branches connect to the trunk as a result of larvae feeding and chewing the tree.

Q.10 What do I do if I suspect Asian Long-horned Beetle is on my property?

Contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 or 416-665-5055 in Toronto. Pest descriptions and resource material can also be found on the CFIA Forestry website and at Canadian Forest Service Offices. Many municipalities may also have information and resources available on ALHB.

Q.11 What is the CFIA doing to control and eradicate the ALHB?

Since the initial find in September 2003, the CFIA has been conducting visual surveys to determine the extent of the introduction and damage. Where infested material is found, it will be destroyed to eliminate the risk of ALHB spreading to uninfested trees.

The ALHB has no natural controls in North America. The only way to stop the beetle's spread is to remove all susceptible trees within 400 metres of an infested tree.

The CFIA maintains and enforces restrictive measures for the movement of potentially infested wood items from areas where the beetle was found. A regulated area has been established in parts of Toronto and Vaughan in order to prevent the spread of the ALHB.

There are prohibitions or restrictions of movement on nursery stock, trees, leaves, logs, lumber, wood, wood chips and bark chips from certain deciduous trees identified as hosts of the ALHB and firewood of all species. Unless authorized by the CFIA, their movement out of or through the regulated area is prohibited. This is necessary to prevent the spread of the ALHB throughout Toronto and the rest of Ontario and Canada.

The CFIA is also asking for the public's help in spotting the beetle and reporting it to their local CFIA office.

Q.12 What should you do if you believe you have found an ALHB or that your tree is infested with the beetle?

If you believe that you may have found an ALHB or that you may have infested ALHB materials, contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2343 or 416-665-5055 in Toronto.

Q.13 How should I dispose of yard waste materials?

For inquiries on the disposal of yard waste contact your municipality.

Q.14 What is being done to control the spread of ALHB?

To control the spread of the ALHB, all plant material must be destroyed by chipping. CFIA inspectors investigate all links to the infested trees, conducting intensive surveys in surrounding areas and determining movement of any infested tree material.

Q.15 Is the federal government compensating property owners for the loss of their trees?

Yes. Compensation for the replacement of trees is available to those whose trees were ordered destroyed to combat the spread of the ALHB, provided the provisions in the Introduced Forest Pest Compensation Regulations are met. For more information on compensation, please see our website, or call 1-800-442-2342 or 416-665-5055 in Toronto.

Q.16 Are there any specific steps being taken for conservation areas or parklands?

The CFIA and its partners are using ground survey, tree climber and bucket truck surveys with on-going forest management techniques to detect signs of infestation.