The Potential Effect of Asian Longhorned Beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)
on Urban Trees in the United States*

David J. Nowak,1 Judith E. Pasek,2 Ronaldo A. Sequeira,2 Daniel E. Crane,1 and Victor C. Mastro3
            The Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky) was recently found in New York City and Chicago. In an attempt to eradicate this beetle, thousands of infested city trees have been removed. Field data from nine U.S. cities and national tree cover data were used to estimate the potential effects of the Asian longhorned beetle on the urban forest resource. For the cities analyzed, the potential tree resources at risk to Asian longhorned beetle attack (based on host preferences), ranges from 12-61% of the city tree population, with an estimated value of $72 million - $2.3 billion per city. The corresponding canopy cover loss that would occur if all preferred host trees were killed ranges from 13-68%. The estimated maximum potential national urban forest impact of the Asian longhorned beetle is a loss of 34.9% of total canopy cover, 30.3% tree mortality (1.2 billion trees) and a value loss of $669 billion.  More detailed information on this study is given in: Nowak et al. 2001. Potential effect of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on urban trees in the United States. Journal of Economic Entomology (in press).

*An abstract prepared for the USDA Interagency Research Forum on Gypsy Moth and Other Invasive Species
(January 16-19, 2001  Annapolis, Maryland)

1Northeastern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, 5 Moon Library, SUNY-CESF, Syracuse, NY 13210

2Centers for Plant Health Science and Technology, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Raleigh Plant Protection Center
1017 Main Campus Dr., Suite 2500, Raleigh, NC 27606-5202

3Centers for Plant Health Science and Technology, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, Otis Plant Protection Center
Building 1398, Otis ANGB, MA 02542-5008



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