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
How do you get rid of longhorn beetles?
Longhorn beetles are tough to track; therefore, you must first put effort into spotting their nest. Try finding pencil-like holes in the bark of the infected trees.
Once you find them, fill all the holes with some timber injection gel, this will help to kill the beetles.
Also, having natural predators like woodpeckers or redwood ants around will also help you get rid of them.
Why are longhorn beetles a problem?
Longhorn beetles are a problem because they are capable of causing massive damage to healthy host trees.
The beetle larva spends a good amount of time tunneling through the bark of a tree, making it almost hollow from the inside.
In many cases, the tunneling is so intense that even a gust of wind can knock down an entire infested tree.
Can longhorn beetles bite?
Longhorn beetles can bite, but they usually don’t end up attacking humans or pets. However, you must note that their bites are capable of inflicting a high amount of pain which can last for hours.
Also, their bite can cause a blister in the wounded area. Therefore it is best to maintain a safe distance from these bugs and not mishandle them in any way.
Are longhorn beetles invasive?
The longhorn beetles are considered invasive in the western Europe region and some North American cities, especially in New York. Currently, these countries are making efforts to get rid of these beetles.
These insects can destroy entire trees by boring through tree bark and making them unhealthy and hollow. They can cause a huge economic impact by destroying useful trees.
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.
1 Comment. Leave new
My co-worker came across one of these while we were out doing habitat restoration at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach, CA. It was challenging figuring out what it was and more challenging learning anything about it. What does it eat? Is it rare? In our combined 20 years of habitat restoration here in Orange County neither of us has ever seen one before. I have some good photos if anyone wants them.