Pittsfield, Massachusetts – Hikers exploring Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary and families heading into October Mountain State Forest are being urged to act immediately if they spot a destructive invasive beetle capable of killing hardwood trees across the Berkshires this spring.
According to the U.S. Forest Service and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, 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 visible dieback appears.
Canoe Meadows, Pittsfield State Forest and trails across October Mountain contain dense stands of mature maples that define the Berkshires’ iconic fall foliage and provide shade along creeks and hiking paths. Similar hardwood cover stretches south toward Lenox and Great Barrington, where spring outdoor activity ramps up.
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 the higher elevations of western Massachusetts, creating hazards along wooded 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 the Berkshires’ signature maple canopy into summer.
