As the Asian longhorned beetle spreads across South Carolina, federal officials are asking residents to examine maple trees and other susceptible species before the infestation causes additional losses.
According to The State, the invasive insect damages hardwoods by boring into them, interrupting sap flow, and leaving finger-sized holes, and severe infestations can kill the trees.
Here's what to know
Roughly 34,000 trees have already been removed as part of the government's response, and the Department of Agriculture says the number of infested trees identified in South Carolina has now risen to over 13,121, per The State.
Agriculture Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins told the outlet that late summer, especially August, is a good time to find the pest because adult beetles are more visible then. Officials added that residents might also notice them on patios or outdoor furniture, not just on trees.
Maples are their primary targets, but the beetles can also infest birch, elm, willow, and buckeye. The USDA says they have sometimes been reported in ash, golden rain tree, katsura, London plane tree, mimosa, mountain ash, and poplar, according to The State.
Warning signs of these invasive beetles include round holes in branches or trunks, egg-laying pits that leave bark depressions, sawdust-like material near the base, and limbs that are dying back for no clear reason.
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More background
Native to China and Korea, the Asian longhorned beetle is believed to have entered the United States in the 1990s through untreated wood packing materials.
South Carolina's first detection came in 2020, when a homeowner in Hollywood found the insect, per The State. A Clemson University Department of Plant Industry inspector later confirmed at least four infested maples and collected live beetles.
Protecting trees from these bugs is important because healthy trees provide shade, help cool neighborhoods, and make outdoor spaces more enjoyable for gardening and everyday use. When mature trees are lost, yards can become hotter and less inviting. Their disappearance can also disrupt backyard ecosystems that many gardeners depend on.
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