Fresno, California – Families gathering at Woodward Park and cyclists riding along the San Joaquin River Parkway are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across the Fresno area this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Food and 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.
Woodward Park, Roeding Park and the San Joaquin River Parkway feature clusters of maples and other hardwoods that provide shade across picnic areas, trails and river corridors. Similar tree cover stretches into Clovis parks and neighborhoods where spring temperatures already push outdoor activity higher.
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 Central Valley wind events, 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 Fresno’s urban canopy into summer.
