Santa Rosa, California – Hikers circling Spring Lake and cyclists riding the Prince Memorial Greenway are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across Sonoma County 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 tunnels deep into trunks, cutting off nutrients and weakening trees long before leaves begin to thin or branches die back.
Spring Lake Regional Park, Annadel State Park and Howarth Park feature clusters of maples and other hardwoods that shade trails, picnic areas and lakeside paths. Similar tree cover lines creeks and greenways stretching into Rohnert Park and Windsor, where outdoor activity increases during mild spring weather.
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 wind events common in the North Bay, 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 Santa Rosa’s urban and park canopy into summer.
