Atlanta, Georgia – Residents across the Southeast are being urged to act immediately as a destructive invasive beetle spreads across Georgia and the Carolinas this spring, putting thousands of hardwood trees at risk of rapid damage within weeks.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Asian longhorned beetle kills maple, birch, elm, willow, and poplar trees by boring into trunks and disrupting nutrient flow. Officials warn the insect can spread quickly through urban and suburban areas, especially in tree-dense regions like metro Atlanta, Charlotte, and Columbia.
State agriculture and forestry agencies are directing residents to kill the beetle on sight and report sightings within 24 hours. The insect is identifiable by its glossy black body with white spots and long, black-and-white banded antennae that extend beyond its body.
Communities across northern Georgia and the Piedmont regions of North and South Carolina face elevated risk, particularly in neighborhoods with mature tree canopies. Tree loss in past infestations has led to increased cooling costs and greater exposure to storm damage.
Officials say vigilance is critical through the spring, with additional alerts likely as monitoring expands across the Southeast.
