Michigan Experts Want You to Look for This Invasive Bug

We have enough problems in Michigan; the last thing we need is these little jerks running around destroying our trees.

There’s a nasty, destructive little bug that’s been making its way across parts of the country, and if it shows up here, we're going to have some big problems. It’s called the Asian longhorned beetle, and August is when it likes to show up and wreak havoc.

According to WNEM, every year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture marks August as Tree Check Month because this is when the beetles start crawling out of trees to feed on leaves and bark, mate, and lay eggs. In other words, it’s when a new generation of tree killers gets started.

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The beetle loves hardwood trees like maple, elm, birch, willow, and horse chestnut. Once it settles in, the tree is pretty much done for. It won’t recover. That’s why Michigan experts want everyone to keep an eye out for these bugs because catching them early is the best way to stop a full-blown invasion.

What Do Asian Longhorned Beetles Look Like?

• A shiny black beetle with white spots, about one to one and a half inches long
• Long black and white antennae that are actually longer than its body

How to Look for Signs of the Asian Longhorned Beetle

• Round holes in the trunk or branches, about the size of a pencil
• Oval scars in the bark
• Piles of what look like wood shavings around the base of the tree
• Dead branches falling from a tree that still looks healthy

If you see anything that matches, report it.

Call the ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938
Or file a report online here

And now for the good news

The Asian longhorned beetle hasn’t been found in Michigan...yet. But that’s exactly why we need to keep an eye out.