Crawling insects Invasive species Quarantine organism Mandatory control and reporting

Asian longhorned beetles

Anoplophora glabripennis / A. chinensis

Asian longhorned beetles

Description

Asian longhorned beetles comprise two species: the Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis), which attacks trunks, and the citrus longhorned beetle (Anoplophora chinensis), which attacks roots. Both are beetles of the Cerambycidae family native to Asia. They reach Europe through wood packaging and ornamental plants. In Switzerland, 6 A. glabripennis infestations have been documented since 2011. Monitored populations remain in Italian provinces bordering Ticino, increasing the risk to our canton. They attack over 100 broadleaf tree species and can kill healthy trees within a few years.

Key characteristics

Size

A. glabripennis 20–35 mm; A. chinensis around 25–40 mm (adult, excluding antennae)

Colour

Shiny black body with pale spots on the wing cases

Antennae

As long as or longer than the body (25–80 mm), 11 segments with grey-blue bases

Larvae

Legless, cream-coloured with a brownish head and serrated bands behind the head

Life cycle

Two years from larva to adult in Switzerland. 30–60 eggs laid under the bark each year

Host plants

Over 100 species: maples, horse chestnuts, birches, hazels, willows, poplars

Risks and spread

Asian longhorned beetles are quarantine organisms subject to mandatory reporting. They can devastate urban and forest tree populations.
  • Urban trees — Destruction of ornamental and avenue trees in cities. Infested trees die within a few years.
  • Forest resources — A threat to broadleaf forests, affecting biodiversity and slope stability.
  • Safety — Trees weakened by larval tunnels can collapse suddenly, posing a risk to people and property.
  • Economic impact — Enormous eradication costs: felling, destruction of material and monitoring over several years.

Prevention

  1. 1

    Check wood packaging from abroad

  2. 2

    Regularly inspect trees for circular exit holes around 1 cm in diameter

  3. 3

    Check for frass (sawdust) at the base of trees

  4. 4

    Do not move firewood from infested areas

  5. 5

    Report suspected cases IMMEDIATELY to the cantonal plant protection service

  6. 6

    Capture the insect (do not kill it), photograph it and report it with an exact location

Our intervention

Eradication of Asian longhorned beetles is regulated at federal level and requires intervention by the authorities. TIsistemo works with the cantonal plant protection service.
  • Identification Species confirmation and delimitation of zones: central (100 m), focal (500 m), buffer (2 km).
  • Restrictions Official restrictions on the movement of plant material within the delimited zones.
  • Monitoring Monitoring for 4 consecutive years without new findings before eradication is declared.

Same category

Other pests we handle

Tapinoma magnum

German cockroach

Blattella germanica

Oriental cockroach

Blatta orientalis

Brown marmorated stink bug

Halyomorpha halys

Got a problem? Call us now.

Rapid response across Canton Ticino and Italian-speaking Graubünden. Free quote.

+41 79 206 33 89 Message us on WhatsApp

Or request a free quote online