asian longhorned beetle

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is native to southern China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan. It has also become established in some parts of the USA, Canada and Austria. It is a wood-boring pest that usually targets hardwood trees such as elm, willow, poplar, maple and a variety of fruit trees. Australia is free from ALB and we want to keep it that way.

What is the risk to Australia?

An outbreak of ALB has the potential to devastate Australia’s apple and pear plantations and destroy forests and native bush. It can cause serious damage to parkland trees and timber structures in houses.

What does the ALB look like?

An adult beetle is about 20 to 35 millimetres long and 7 to 12 millimetres wide. Its body is jet black in colour with white spots. The antennae are black with whitish-blue rings and can be up to two and a half times the body length.

The larvae look like ‘grubs’ and can grow up to 50 millimetres long. ALB eggs are approximately 5 to 7 millimetres long, are off-white in colour, rectangular in shape and are laid under bark.

What to look for

The beetle is most likely to arrive on imported timber and wood used for pallets and other packing materials from Asia or North America. Look out for larval tunnels in the wood up to 15 millimetres wide, sawdust-like frass falling from damaged timber and oval-shaped adult exit holes approximately 10 to 15 millimetres wide.

What to do if you find any suspect ALB

• SEE. SECURE. REPORT.
  
• If you SEE any suspect findings, SECURE them where possible and immediately REPORT them to AQIS on 1800 020 504.
  
• Consult AQIS entomologists prior to handling or collecting specimens.

More information

Website
Phone: 1800 020 504 Freecall within Australia