The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service declares every August as Tree Check Month, the most likely time to see the beetle and the damage it causes to trees. ​

Reaching up to 1.5 inches in length, the Asian longhorned beetle, or ALB for short, is distinctive. It has a shiny, black body flecked with irregular, white blotches and long antennae with alternating black and white bands.

ALB has not been discovered in Michigan yet, but it is crucial to look for signs of its presence, including round exit holes about the diameter of a pencil found in tree trunks and branches, shallow, oval or round scars in the bark where the adult beetle chewed, material that looks like wood shavings on the ground around the tree, dead branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree.

If you think you have found a beetle or tree damage, you are urged to report it by calling the USDA ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938 or submitting an online report. It is also important to try to photograph the beetle or tree damage. If you can, capture the beetle in a durable container and freeze it. This helps preserve the insect for identification.

Although ALB has not yet been discovered in Michigan, it is crucial to look for any potential signs of its presence. Discovering early signs of infestation can prevent widespread damage to the state’s forest resources, urban landscapes and maple syrup production.​

ALB doesn’t move far on its own, but it can and has hitchhiked to new areas in untreated firewood. When traveling, leave firewood at home and purchase what you need locally or choose certified, heat-treated firewood.