What is the Asian long-horned beetle...

The Asian long-horned beetle has recently been attacking trees in the United States. The larvae girdle tree stems and branches, which can lead to dieback in the crown, possibly even killing the tree. This import, which probably made its way here in packing materials, has long been killing hardwood trees in China. Here in the United States, the beetle prefers box elder, Norway, red, silver, sugar, and sycamore maples, among other trees. The only way to eliminate these beetles seems to be removal and burning of the infested trees. Early detection and treatment are crucial. Infested areas must be quarantined.