Morgantown, West Virginia – Hikers heading to Coopers Rock State Forest and cyclists riding the Mon River Rail-Trail are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across north central West Virginia this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, the Asian longhorned beetle attacks maple, birch, willow, poplar and elm trees. Officials warn the insect burrows deep into trunks, cutting off nutrients and weakening trees long before visible dieback appears.
Coopers Rock State Forest, White Park and trails along the Monongahela River feature mature maples and other hardwoods that shade overlooks, riverbanks and neighborhood green spaces. Similar tree cover stretches into Star City and along wooded corridors near Cheat Lake.
The beetle is glossy black with bright white spots and long black-and-white banded antennae that extend beyond its body. Visitors may notice perfectly round exit holes in trunks or sawdust-like material collecting at the base of trees.
If infestations spread, weakened limbs could snap during strong spring wind events common in the Appalachian foothills, creating hazards along trails and park roads.
Officials urge residents and park visitors to kill the beetle on sight if safely possible and report sightings immediately to state agriculture authorities. Early detection this season could prevent widespread tree removal and protect Morgantown’s mountain canopy into summer.
