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SPECIAL SPECIAL FEAFEATURE and Misconceptions Asian Longhorned Beetle: 10 Myths By Joe Boggs and Amy Stone Asian longhorned beetle (ALB; Anoplophora glabripennis) has the potential to cause an unprecedented catastrophic loss of trees in North America. Unlike other devastating pests and diseases of non-native origins such as emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis), Dutch elm disease,and chestnut blight,which kill members in one plant genera, ALB kills trees belonging to 13 plant genera. ALB is native to China and the Koreas, and it is now well known that the beetle is capable of hitchhiking across the globe as larvae,pupae, and newly developed adults inside the wood of packing materials.The beetle was first discovered in North America in Brooklyn,N.Y.,in 1996, and was subsequently detected in Illinois and New Jersey. In 2008, the largest infestation in North America was discovered in Worcester,Mass. And just last year,Ohio became the fifth U.S.state affected byALB when an infestation was found in Bethel, a small town about 25 miles east of Cincinnati. The Ohio infestation represented several "firsts" for ALB. It was the first time the beetle had been found in a rural area dominated by farmland, it is the southern-most infestation to be found in North America, and it was the first time the beetle was found in an area where EAB is also wreaking havoc. EAB actually overlapped ALB in Chicago;however,it was not known in 1998 that EAB had established beachheads in North America. As with any new discovery that finds its way into the news media, science sometimes takes a back seat to opinions formed out of rampant speculation. Some misconceptions arise from the fact that science is an ever-advancing enterprise based on new discoveries made through research.Other misunderstandings can be traced to the overlap of ALB and 18 Arbor Age / July/August 2012 All photos provided by Joe Boggs EAB in Ohio;two very different non-native borers. The following are 10 myths and misconceptions about ALB that have been gleaned from news reports,web postings, and social media.Some arose years ago, while others are very recent. Unfortunately, these mis- conceptions have often gained traction based on appearing in multiple venues.As William James said,"There's nothing so absurd that if you repeat it often enough,people will believe it." #1:"Asian longhorned beetles behave exactly like emerald ash borers."Taxonomy illustrates that ALB and EAB are like apples to oranges.While both beetles belong to the same insect order (Coleoptera = Beetles),ALB belongs to the family Cerambycidae (adults = long- horned beetles; larvae = roundheaded borers) and EAB belongs to the family Buprestidae (adults = metallic wood borers; larvae = flatheaded borers). www.arborage.com