Bend, Oregon – Walkers along the Deschutes River Trail and families gathering in Drake Park are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across Central Oregon this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon 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.
Drake Park, Shevlin Park and riverfront trails winding through Bend feature clusters of maples and other hardwoods that provide shade along the Deschutes River. Similar tree cover stretches into Tumalo State Park and neighborhood parks throughout Deschutes County, where outdoor activity ramps up during mild spring days.
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 gusty spring wind events common in Central Oregon, creating hazards along trails, picnic areas and river access points.
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 Bend’s urban and riverfront canopy into summer.
