Description:Adult Asian longhorned beetles are large (0.75-1.5 in. long) with very long black and white banded antennae. The body is glossy black with irregular white spots. The beetles are known to attack maple, horsechestnut, elm, willow, birch, poplar, and ash trees.
Distribution:Native to China. The Asian longhorned beetle has been found in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, and Toronto, Canada. They have also been found in warehouses or at ports all over North America.
Description:Adults are slender, elongate and 7.5-13.5 mm long. Color varies but usually bronze or golden green overall, with darker, metallic, emerald green wing covers; top of the abdomen under the wings is metallic purplish red and can be seen when the wings are spread. This exotic beetle feeds on ash (Fraxinus spp.) trees.
Distribution:Native to Asia. The emerald ash borer was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and since has been found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia. It is also established in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. (map)
Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta). Photo: Scott Bauer, Bugwood.org
Insects are the most numerous and speciose class of animals on the planet. They form the base of many food chains for higher animals. Many are small and not easily seen because they are good at hiding. This helps them escape detection when they are accidentally imported on other goods coming into this country.
Use the resources below to help guide you to information about invasive insects.
Pest Tracker - news, maps, factsheets, control efforts, publications and more!
If you think you've found a new pest see our page on Reporting systems to let someone know!
Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network
Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network
The Cactus moth (Cactoblastis cactorum Berg.) is a widely used biological control agent of pricklypear cactus in Australia and South Africa. Cactus moth appeared in the Florida Keys in 1989, spreading as far as South Carolina and Alabama. Cactus moth quickly destroys a stand of pricklypear, and is a threat to natural biodiversity, horticulture, and forage in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
The Cactus Moth Detection and Monitoring Network, composed of volunteer monitors from public and private land management units, garden clubs and Master Gardeners to monitor the spread of the moth.
New Pest Advisory Group
The New Pest Advisory Group (NPAG) assess exotic plant pests that are new or imminent threats to U.S. agriculture or the environment and recommends appropriate actions to the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Deputy Administrator (DA).
Detection of a new exotic plant pest or identification of a pathway for a new pest's introduction begins the process. When this happens, the NPAG assembles a panel of federal, state, and university experts that have knowledge of the pest or pest situation. The NPAG then develops recommendations through literature searches and discussions with the expert panel.
The NBII Program is administered by the Biological Informatics Office of the U.S. Geological Survey
