First Recorded Asian Longhorned Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Infestation in the Southern United States

Abstract The Asian longhorned beetle [Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), ALB] was found in Hollywood, SC, May 2020. This infestation is at least 7-yr old and represents the southernmost North America. A federally regulated invasive forest tree pest, ALB primarily attacks maples but known to attack reproduce trees 12 different genera. Damage observed South Carolina typical of that seen other infestations, including oviposition sites, splitting bark around larval feeding round holes made by emerging adults. Copious weeping from sites commonly summer 2020, characteristic frass wood shavings were exuded attacked trees. Federal state regulatory officials established a 152 km2 (58.6 mi2) area October—which increased 188.0 (72.6 January—and date >4,000 (98% Acer spp.) infested with have been identified. Several uncertainties regarding ALB’s biology ecology exist due this area’s subtropical climate, impacts beetle’s life cycle. Questions also surround potential biological control agents whether new host would be utilized. While standard eradication strategy removal chipping being performed, there are several forested wetlands areas otherwise inaccessible equipment where alternate strategies may need developed deployed. Because located within novel environment, it provides an opportunity research will help improve future detection efforts.