A photo of a beetle with long antenae

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), or ALB, is a destructive wood-boring pest that feeds on maple and other hardwoods, eventually killing them. It most likely came to the United States inside wood packaging material from Asia.

Facts to Know

A tree with many holes in it
  • The ALB has the potential to cause more damage than Dutch elm disease, chestnut blight and gypsy moths combined, destroying millions of acres of America's treasured hardwoods, including national forests and backyard trees.
  • Adult beetles are most active during the summer and early fall. Throughout the summer, they can be seen on tree trunks and branches, walls, outdoor furniture, cars, and sidewalks.
  • Once the Asian Longhorned Beetle infests a tree, there is no cure. Once a tree is infested by ALB, the tree must be removed to help save more trees.

What Can You Do?

You can report your findings at www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com.

Please also contact the Amherst College Environmental Health and Safety Department at EHS@amherst.edu to report sightings or if you have any further questions.