Chicago, Illinois – Walkers, runners and cyclists along the Lakefront Trail are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across Chicago this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Asian longhorned beetle attacks maple, birch, willow, poplar and elm trees. Officials warn the insect tunnels deep into trunks, disrupting nutrient flow and weakening trees long before leaves begin to thin or branches die back.
Lincoln Park, Grant Park and Jackson Park feature mature maples and other hardwoods that shade playgrounds, lagoons and heavily used paths. Similar tree cover stretches through Humboldt Park and along the Chicago River corridor, where dense stands of hardwoods provide cooling shade and stabilize soil.
The beetle is glossy black with sharp 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 along Lake Michigan, creating hazards near trails, park roads and lakefront 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 Chicago’s urban canopy into summer.
