What Eats Longhorn Beetles? 4 Types of Insects That Eat Them

Longhorn beetles can cause a lot of devastation to trees, so it is important to understand what natural methods can be used to eliminate them, including which predators might eat them.

There are thousands of species of beetles scattered around the globe, but there is one that catches the eye of people.

Longhorn beetles are infamous due to their nature of destroying trees by boring a large continuous network of tunnels in the tree barks.

The Longhorn beetles are considered a threat to the forest around the world. Although there are not many natural predators of these beetles, some countries like China are conducting research to understand these beetles better and to find out ways to eradicate them from the region.

In this article, we will discuss what kills these Asian longhorn beetles, both naturally and artificially.

Predators

There are a number of invertebrate species that prey on these Asian long-horned beetles and the beetle larvae, but only a few are termed as specific hunters of these species of beetles.

Several ant species are known to hunt them in the Indian region. The redwood ants are considered highly effective in putting a brake on the growing population of these longhorn beetles.

There are woodpeckers who largely consume these beetles and are responsible for the effective control of these species in China.

You will be surprised to know that the Chinese have started putting bird nests around the beetle-infested areas to encourage woodpeckers to come and hunt them.

Parasitoids

Parasitoids are attackers that try to kill and consume the egg or the larva. One of the known natural predators of the Asian longhorned beetle is the eulophid wasps.

They are known to attack the beetle larva and the eggs.

The Aprostocetus fukutai is another prime egg parasitoid of these longhorn beetle. The larvae of D. Longulus can also be considered a threat to the Asian longhorn beetle larva.

The other known larval parasitoids are the braconid wasps and Dastarcus Longulus. These parasitoids live inside the host body, and they eventually end up killing the host itself.

Research is currently going on to find out if these parasitoids will work on Asian long-horned beetles.

Pathogens

A pathogen is a living organism that is capable of causing several diseases in its host.

Pathogens are of several types and usually include viruses, bacteria, and funguses. In the case of longhorn beetles, there are a few pathogens that can cause their death.

The fungus Beauveria bassiana is a pathogen that causes the death of long-horned beetles when it is injected into the holes that they make in trees.

Another pathogen B. brongniartii, which is from Japan, has also shown exceptional results in infecting and killing adult beetles.

There are many studies and experiments going on currently to find which pathogens are effective against the Anoplophora glabripennis (Asian longhorn beetle).

Nematodes

The entomopathogenic nematodes are also used to kill these Asian long-horned beetles.

Through studies, it was discovered that Steinernema bibionis and S. feltiae nematodes were effective in killing wood-boring beetles.

Other nematodes like S. feltiae are also under evaluation to determine their effectiveness in controlling these insects.

Despite the number of elements or creatures that kills these Asian longhorn beetles, there is a constant effort in trying to find more natural enemies for these insects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Longhorned beetles are a massive threat to forests and healthy growing trees. This is why there is a constant worldwide effort to reduce their damage by controlling the population.

While there are a few natural hunters of the Asian longhorn beetles, the population still continues to grow.

This is why studies are required to find external measures to control the infestation of these beetle species.

We sincerely hope that the information provided above was helpful for you in understanding what can be done to put a brake on such infestations.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. 

Reader Emails

Ever since longhorned beetles gained infamy in the US, there have been efforts to find a way to get rid of them.

Go through emails from our readers sharing their pics and experiences of longhorned beetles from various countries, inquiring about which predators can hunt them down.

Letter 1 – Longhorn Beetle from Thailand: Aristobia approximator

 

Bug from Thailand
I am a eucalyptus farmer here in Thailand and discovered a new beetle yesterday munching on my trees. Can you please identify it for me? Thanks in advance,
Don

Hi Don,
Before you decide to spend money to eradicate the Cerambycid Beetle or Longhorn Beetle, Aristobia approximator, from your eucalyptus grove, you should know that we located a framed mounted specimen online for $109.00, which may make raising the beetles more profitable than raising the trees.

Letter 2 – Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus

 

Ides of March 2006
Hello Bugman,
I found this beetle in Buena Vista, Panama. His body was about 8 cm long, but the front legs were enormous. He made a funny grinding noise when you would pick him up. Like those old-fashioned, wind-up toys that sounded like grinding metal. Can you tell me what he is?
Thanks,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Our friend Monica from Switzerland just mailed us a beautiful book called Living Jewels by Poul Beckmann, and plate 28, Acrocinus longimanus, is a dead ringer for your beetle. The book lists it from Peru, and BugGuide pictures a specimen from Ecuador.

Update from David Gracer (05/31/2006)
www.slshrimp.com
Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
The larvae of this species is eaten throughout much of Mexico and South America; like that of other big Cerambycids (Macrodontia, for example), such a meal would be both good-sized and, one might say, expensive. The grubs are large, and the adults that the larvae would otherwise become would fetch considerable sums of money as mounted specimens. Also worth noting: insects that feature complete metamorphosis – beetles, lepidopterans, flies, etc – are far more often consumed in the last-instar larval and pupal stages than the adult stage. The previous stages have a lot more protein and fats, which provide the fuel necessary to transform the insect into the imago stage (and would therefore make the potential food item more desirable in terms of both taste and nutrition.)

Letter 3 – Longhorn Borer Beetle

 

Black & white beetle ID
Great site! I’ve got photos of a beetle than I can’t find any ID on. It was found walking around on our deck last June. I’m assuming it’s some kind of borer or blister beetle? I’d be grateful for an answer so I can put a label on this stock photo!
Daryl Ann Anderson
Alston, Michigan

Hi Daryl,
This is one of the Longhorn Beetles, but will check to see if Eric Eaton can provide anything more specific. Here is Eric’s reply: ” The longhorn is actually some species in the genus Neoclytus, though I don’t know which one specifically. This genus is in a different subfamily (Cerambycinae).” Then Eric wrote back: ” Oh, the Neoclytus longhorn could also be in the genus Xylotrechus. I consulted a book on longhorns and got more confused. Hahaha! It would be in one of those two genera, though.”

Update While Eric was busy identifying the beetle, Daryl who wrote the original letter did a good job of researching as well, discovering this link to Xylotrechus undulatus:
I found it!!! Click here… What do you think?

Letter 4 – Longhorn Beetle: Synaphaeta guexi

 

What’s that Cerambycid?
Hi Bugman,
Thanks for being here. Talking to people about insects is part of my job and I am spreading the word about your wonderful site. I was asked to identify this long-horned beetle, but I have only limited collection information. It was found at a residence in a new subdivision north of Yuba City, California, approximately 45 miles due north of Sacramento in the Central Valley. I don’t know if it was associated with hardwoods or softwoods, but I do know that the neighborhood is a new subdivision and most of the landscape trees in the area are young hardwoods with stone fruit orchards within a mile. The body length is 1.5 centimeters. Thank you for your help,
Margaret Stelmok

Hi Margaret,
We are turning to Eric Eaton for help with your Cerambycid, and await his reply. Here is his response: ” The cerambycid is another Synaphaeta guexi. Boy, this must be their year!”

Letter 5 – Longhorn Beetle

 

Want to know what this is…
What kind of insect is this?
David P. Summers, SETI Institute
NASA Ames Research Center
Moffett Field, CA

Hi David,
You have told us much more about yourself than you did about the Cerambycid Beetle in your photo. We do not want to assume that because you are in California, that your Longhorn Beetle is also from California. We would really like to try to identify the species and would appreciate confirmation that the beetle was photographed in California. It really is a strikingly beautiful specimen. We will check if Eric Eaton recognizes it.

Hi, Daniel:
Yes, the longhorn beetle is Crossidius coralinus, a common species in arid lands of the western U.S. Adult beetles in the genus Crossidius in general can be abundant on late summer composite flowers, especially rabbitbrush. I believe the larve feed in the roots of sagebrush, but don’t quote me there.
Eric

It wasn’t photographed in California. The photo was taken in Zion National Park, Utah, on the Paarus Trail (in the early afternoon?). The Paarus trail winds long the Virgin river at the bottom of the canyon. If it matters, it was bright and sunny but there had been a brief but heavy shower a couple hours before.
David

Letter 6 – Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus

 

Hello Bugman,
I found this beetle in Buena Vista, Panama. His body was about 8 cm long, but the front legs were enormous. He made a funny grinding noise when you would pick him up. Like those old-fashioned, wind-up toys that sounded like grinding metal. Can you tell me what he is?
Thanks,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
Our friend Monica from Switzerland just mailed us a beautiful book called Living Jewels by Poul Beckmann, and plate 28, Acrocinus longimanus, is a dead ringer for your beetle. The book lists it from Peru, and BugGuide pictures a specimen from Ecuador.

Update from David Gracer (05/31/2006)
www.slshrimp.com
Longhorn Beetle from Panama: Acrocinus longimanus
The larvae of this species is eaten throughout much of Mexico and South America; like that of other big Cerambycids (Macrodontia, for example), such a meal would be both good-sized and, one might say, expensive. The grubs are large, and the adults that the larvae would otherwise become would fetch considerable sums of money as mounted specimens. Also worth noting: insects that feature complete metamorphosis – beetles, lepidopterans, flies, etc – are far more often consumed in the last-instar larval and pupal stages than the adult stage. The previous stages have a lot more protein and fats, which provide the fuel necessary to transform the insect into the imago stage (and would therefore make the potential food item more desirable in terms of both taste and nutrition.)

Letter 7 – Longhorn Borer Beetle from Japan

 

Big Beetle from Japan (longhorn beetle?)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
July 10, 2011 2:11 am
Dear Bugman and friends,
Hi! My friend and I photographed this bug at night on July 3, 2011 at Chinzan-so Garden in Tokyo. Its body was about 3 inches long from nose to tail, and the spread of its antennae was quite a bit more than that. It wasn’t terribly colorful, but it was impressively big. This is the biggest bug I’ve seen in person that was not in a zoo. Do you know what it might be? We thought it might be a longhorn beetle of some sort, but from my scan research, it seems those seem to run a bit smaller than this guy. Thank you so much!
Signature: Corky Visminas

Hi Corky,
This is indeed a Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae.  Our initial search did not produce any similar images.  Perhaps one of our readers will supply a comment with an identification.

Letter 8 – Longhorn Borer Beetle: Ipochus fasciatus

 

Subject: Maybe a Velvet Ant?
Location: California
October 27, 2014 5:01 am
I found this strange little guy (or gal) in my back yard. Couldn’t figure out what it was even after exhaustive searching (Mainly me typing Furry Ant-Spider Hybrid into various image search engines and forums), hopefully you may recognize it. In terms of size, it looked to me to be about 1cm long. I took pictures from a couple angles, it is a remarkable looking little thing, would love to know what it is! Thanks!!
Signature: Ace

Hi Ace,
This is a Longhorned Borer Beetle in the family Cerambycidae, not a Velvet Ant.  The furry covering is quite unusual for the family, but we did post a similarly hairy Bycid from Puerto Rico in January from the genus Ecyrus.  We searched the genus Ecyrus on BugGuide and found only representatives in Eastern North America, but we expanded the search to include other members of the tribe Pogonocherini and that led to a single mounted specimen of  Lophopogonius crinitus that is pictured on BugGuide.  We also located images of mounted specimens on A Photographic Catalog of the Cerambycidae of the World.  There is not much information on this species online.  We have contacted Eric Eaton to get a second opinion of the identification.  Are you able to provide us with a county or city location?

Eric Eaton Responds
Close.  Sort of.  Ipochus fasciatus:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/125447
Nice images considering how tiny.
Eric

Thank you so much! It feels so good to finally know what it is hahaha! The location is Santa Cruz, right along the coast, if that helps add to info about it’s geographical spread. Thank you again so much!!

Letter 9 – Longhorn Borer Beetles

 

Subject: Cerambycid I.D.
Location: Madera Canyon Road, Arizona
October 24, 2015 1:42 am
I found a number of these beautiful small cerambycids on Baccharis bushes on the side of the road going to Madera Canyon in Southern Arizona. Can you identify them for me? Thanks.
Signature: Bill King

Hi Bill,
Judging by the number of legs and antennae evident in your image, there appears to be another individual hidden, so you may have documented this lovely individual mating.  We found it pictured on FlickR and there it is identified as Sphaenothecus bivittata.  According to Valerie’s Austin Bug Collection:  “The mate finding strategy of S. bivittata is rather flamboyant. Males position themselves on the highest tips of branches on flowering shrubs or small trees and keep lookout for females. Their long thin antennae wave in the wind. When females arrive, the males are quick to take action and they frequently mate while the females feed.”  According to BugGuide:  “Larval hosts: Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Roses (Rosa spp.)”

Letter 10 – Longhorn Borer Beetle: Parandra polita

 

Subject: Whats this bug
Location: Western pa
July 9, 2017 5:06 pm
Whats kind of bug is this?
Signature: Thank you james

Dear James,
This proved to be a bit of a challenge because your beetle does not really resemble other members of its family Cerambycidae, the Longhorned Borer Beetles .  Luckily we identified it as Parandra polita in Arthur Evans marvelous book Beetles of Eastern North America.  We verified that identification on BugGuide.  According to BugGuide:  “Larvae in heartwood of hickory, tuliptree, beech.”  In his blog Beetles in the Bush, Ted C. MacRae provides this account:  “As I did, I noticed a reddish-brown, large-mandibled beetle sitting on the sheet that, for all intents and purposes, looked like a small stag beetle. I wasn’t fooled, however, as I knew exactly what this beetle was—I had previously seen this species in the form of two individuals at a blacklight in southern Missouri very near to my current location (although it was 28 years ago!). It was Parandra polita, an usual longhorned beetle belonging to the archaic subfamily Parandrinae, and those specimens (MacRae 1994) plus another collected more recently a few miles north—also at a blacklight in wet bottomland forest along the Mississippi River (McDowell & MacRae 2009)—to date represent the only known occurrences of this uncommon species in Missouri.”