Hartford, Connecticut – Families walking through Bushnell Park and runners using the Connecticut Riverwalk are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across central Connecticut this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the Connecticut 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.
Bushnell Park, Elizabeth Park in nearby West Hartford and trails stretching along the Connecticut River feature mature maples and other hardwoods that shade historic grounds, riverfront paths and residential neighborhoods. Similar tree cover extends into Talcott Mountain State Park and surrounding Hartford County communities.
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 spring wind events common in southern New England, 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 Hartford’s historic urban canopy into summer.
