Recap of April First Friday with Florida First Detector
In April, we started to learn about wood boring insects. Some of the most common types of wood boring insects are beetles with many species in the families Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, and Curculionidae. In this month’s webinar, we focused on invasive jewel beetles (Buprestidae) and longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae). Next month in May, we will take a closer look at the bark beetles in the family Curculionidae.
Two invasive wood boring beetles that we learned a lot about were emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle. Both species have been introduced to the United States, but they have not been found in Florida as of April 2023. Both species cause big problems in urban and rural forests.
Emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis, is native to East Asia. It was first found in the U.S. in 2022 in Detroit, MI, and it has since spread to 36 states. Emerald ash borer has even been found in neighboring states to Florida like Alabama and Georgia. This species causes major problems in Ash trees. Florida is home to four species of ash trees that could potentially be harmed if emerald ash borer were introduced.
Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is native to China and Korea. It was introduced to the U.S. and eradicated in some locations. Currently, Asian longhorned beetle is found in Massachusetts, Ohio, New York, and most recently, South Carolina. This pest attacks hardwood trees like maple, elm, willow, poplar and more.
Both emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle larvae feed on the inside of tree trunks. They create galleries or tunnels under the bark. This internal damage can lead to die back and death of the tree. You can also see exit holes, bark cracking and pitting too. If you think you found either species in Florida, submit a sample!
Resources on Invasive Wood Boring Insects
- USDA, APHIS Resources on Emerald Ash Borer
- USDA, APHIS Resources on Asian Longhorned Beetle
- ASK IFAS Citrus Longhorned Beetle Article
- USDA resources on Wood Packing Materials and ISPM 15
Want to watch the recording?
What is the upcoming schedule?
We are meeting online via Zoom from 12:00PM-1:00PM on the First Friday of every month from Sept 2022-Aug 2023. Please visit this blog for registration information and the upcoming schedule.
Questions?
Contact Dr. Morgan Pinkerton, morgan0402@ufl.edu
Or
Visit the Florida First Detector Website
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