Eugene, Oregon – Walkers and cyclists along the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across the Eugene-Springfield area 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 leaves begin to thin or branches die back.
Alton Baker Park, Hendricks Park and the Mount Pisgah Arboretum feature mature maples and other hardwoods that shade trails, riverbanks and picnic areas. Similar tree cover stretches along the Willamette River and into Spencer Butte Park, where spring hiking 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 systems common in the southern Willamette Valley, 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 Eugene’s urban canopy into summer.
