Boise, Idaho – Walkers and cyclists along the Boise River Greenbelt are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across the Treasure Valley this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the Idaho State 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 nutrient flow and weakening trees long before leaves begin to thin.
Kathryn Albertson Park, Julia Davis Park and stretches of the Greenbelt from Ann Morrison Park to Barber Park feature dense stands of hardwoods that shade paths and stabilize the Boise River’s banks. Similar tree cover extends into Eagle Island State Park and Lucky Peak State Park, where foot traffic increases as temperatures warm.
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 Southwest Idaho, creating hazards along trails and picnic areas.
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 Boise’s riverfront canopy into summer.
