Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

U.S. Researchers investigate Asian wood boring insects’ effect on North American trees

October 28, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dr. Jiri Hulcr from the University of Florida has made several notable discoveries in recent research into Asian longhorn beetles and the potential threat they pose to North American tree species. His research was supported with funding from USDA Forest Service International Programs Invasive Species program and from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Dr. Hulcr and his student colleagues Simon Ernstons and You Li worked closely with researchers at The Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and with other scientists in China on the study.

Wood-boring insects, like Asian longhorn beetles, stow away in wood packing materials or in live plants and are frequently intercepted at U.S. ports. Exotic longhorn beetle species can be extremely destructive to healthy and dead trees. Efforts to eradicate species already introduced into the United States have cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Dr. Hulcr and his team worked closely with researchers in China to uncover, translate and compile data on longhorn beetles’ activity on American tree species planted in China. Researchers examined the beetles’ interaction with species of special commercial value like citrus, avocado, and the oak and beech family (Fagaceae).

Among their discoveries, the researchers determined that there are at least two species of Anoplophora, the genus that includes the Asian longhorn beetle, which are specialized on oaks. The data suggests that these species of beetle would be highly undesirable if ever introduced into the United States.

Insect specimens and data collections from Chinese sources, usually inaccessible to western scientists, aided the team in making these discoveries.

“Research into insects is not often translated into English, and many Chinese studies are not available in research databases or scientific journals,” said Dr. Hulcr. “In addition, most data on insect-tree relationships still reside on paper labels on pinned specimens. Such important but non-digitized information is called ‘dark data’ in modern biology.”

Throughout the study, the University of Florida research team has invested in building relationships with their local counterparts. Prior to the pandemic, the team travelled to China regularly to work with colleagues in country and assisted in translating host plant names from regional dialects and matching Chinese tree names to Latin names.

Dr. Hulcr and his team are continuing their research into Asian longhorn beetles in partnership with Forest Service International Programs and with Chinese scientists. They are collecting data from reports, research notebooks and dissertations. They will be monitoring the activity of wood-boring insects on American tree species in “sentinel gardens,” innovative spaces to research North American trees planted in China.

Findings from "Host associations between longhorn beetles and American commodity tree species" will be published in the journal "Management of Biological Invasions (2021) Volume 12."

Woman in a red coat holds open two drawers containing large black beetles on display.
Coauthor and research partner Dr. Mei-Ying Lin examines longhorn beetle specimen in the Institute of Zoology, Beijing. USDA Forest Service photo.

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/apply/us-researchers-investigate-asian-wood-boring-insects-effect