Asian Longhorned Beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) — also known as the Starry Sky or Sky Beetle — was accidentally introduced to the United States and first discovered in 1996.  It is native to eastern China, Japan and Korea.  It does not attack softwood trees but does attack healthy hardwoods, especially maple. It is a large insect, with a body that ranges from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) in length and antennae up to 4 inches long (10 cm).  They are shiny and black with about 20 white spots on each wing cover and long antennae that have black and white bands on them.  The adult beetles can fly, but generally only for short distances because of their bulky size and weight.  They have not been discovered anywhere in Maine as yet, and to help ensure they do NOT find their way here, the Maine Forest Service urges people not to transport firewood.  They have a motto: Leave your firewood at home — don’t give bugs a free ride!

In Maine, people often encounter another kind of longhorned beetle, the Whitespotted Sawyer Beetle, and worry that it might be the Asian one.  Sometimes the Western Conifer Seed Bug alarms people as well — fearing it might be the Asian Longhorned Beetle.

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