Seattle, Washington – Visitors heading to Washington state parks near Seattle this spring are being asked to stay vigilant and immediately destroy a destructive invasive beetle that can devastate hardwood forests along popular hiking corridors.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Asian longhorned beetle attacks maple, birch, willow, poplar and elm trees. Officials warn that early detection is critical because infestations can spread tree to tree before visible damage becomes widespread.
State parks across the Puget Sound region, including Deception Pass, Saint Edward State Park in Kenmore, Dash Point near Federal Way and Flaming Geyser near Black Diamond, contain dense stands of maple and other hardwoods. These trees line trails, campgrounds and picnic areas frequented by thousands of visitors each week during spring.
The beetle is glossy black with bright white spots and long black-and-white banded antennae that extend beyond its body. Signs of infestation include perfectly round exit holes in trunks, sawdust-like material at the base of trees and thinning branches high in the canopy.
If left unchecked, weakened trees could shed large limbs during windy Pacific storm systems, increasing hazards along trails and in campgrounds.
Officials urge hikers to kill the beetle on sight if safely possible and report sightings immediately to state agriculture authorities. Rapid reporting this spring could prevent widespread tree removal and protect Washington’s state park forests heading into summer.
