Raleigh, North Carolina – Federal officials are urging residents across North Carolina and South Carolina to kill an invasive beetle on sight as it threatens hardwood trees this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) attacks and kills maple trees along with other hardwood species, including birch, elm, willow, poplar, and horse chestnut. Officials warn that if left unchecked, infestations can spread rapidly through neighborhoods and forested areas.
The agency’s guidance is clear: if the beetle is found, it should be destroyed immediately and reported to state agricultural or forestry authorities.
The insect is identifiable by its glossy black body with white spots and long black-and-white banded antennae extending beyond its body. Signs of infestation include round exit holes in tree trunks, sawdust-like material near the base, and thinning or dying branches in the canopy.
Hardwood trees line residential streets, coastal communities, inland forests, parks, and university campuses throughout the Carolinas. Once trees become structurally weakened, falling limbs can pose safety risks during coastal storms, hurricanes, and severe weather events common to the region.
Past infestations in other states have required the removal of thousands of trees to stop further spread, significantly altering local landscapes and increasing municipal costs.
Students, homeowners, and commuters in wooded communities may be among the first to notice visible damage this spring.
Officials stress that early detection and rapid reporting remain critical to protecting hardwood forests across the Atlantic coast region.
