Case Study. Invasive Insects in Plant Biosecurity: The Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program

Abstract

Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), Anoplphora glabripennis (Motschulsky), is a highly destructive wood-boring pest of maple and other hardwood trees. ALB is native to East Asia; its range covers much of the eastern half of China and the Korean peninsula (Acta Entomol Sin 41: 284–290, 1998; Lingafelter SW, Hoebeke ER (2002) Revision of Anoplophora (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Entomological Society of Washington, Washington, DC). ALB was first discovered in the USA in August 1996 in Brooklyn, New York. Infestations were subsequently detected in Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Ohio.

The beetle likely entered the USA in wood packing material from the importation of goods from East Asia. ALB successfully attacks and kills healthy trees. The ecological and host range of this insect in Asia suggests that it probably can survive almost anywhere in the USA. This insect poses a serious economic and environmental threat to city, urban, rural and forested areas.

In 2000, USDA APHIS developed and executed the scientific strategies for ALB eradication from the USA. In 2008, USDA APHIS successfully eradicated ALB from Illinois and Hudson County, New Jersey. In 2011, the infestation in Islip, New York was successfully eradicated. Most recently, in 2013, the infestation in Middlesex/Union Counties New Jersey was eradicated. New York, Massachusetts, and Ohio continue to battle isolated ALB infestations. Federal, state, and local coordination and cooperation based on well-developed strategic plans, ultimately led to these successful eradications. Education, outreach, science and cooperation blended seamlessly as the dedicated program staff explored and used all the tools available to preserve one of the nation’s most valuable natural resources, trees.