ALBERT 1.0: Supporting eradication of Asian longhorned beetle
| Authors: | R. Talbot Trotter, III, Jennifer L. Chandler, Matthew Richardson |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Other |
| Station: | Northern Research Station |
| Source: | Rooted in Research Issue 58. July 2026. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 2 p. |
Abstract
Invasive wood-boring insects pose a major threat to forestry, recreation, and timber industries in the United States, and species such as the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) and redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus) are already radically altering North American landscapes. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) (Anoplophora glabripennis) arrived in the United States via solid wood packing materials and continues to pose a massive threat to North American forests.
Native to China and the Korean peninsula, ALB attacks more than 22 genera of trees, including maples, elms, poplars, and willows. Larvae weaken trees by boring through phloem, xylem, and heartwood and increasing susceptibility to pests and pathogens, which often results in structural failure. Multiple infestations have been found in the United States and, if not eradicated, economic damages are expected to exceed $600 billion. Eradication efforts have been successful in some locations, but eradication depends heavily on visual surveys, felling, and destruction of infested hosts, making eradication labor intensive and costly.
Development of ALBERT 1.0
Ecologist R. Talbot Trotter III from the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station worked with colleagues from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to develop Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication and Risk Tracking (ALBERT) 1.0 as a toolkit to support invasive insect eradication programs. ALBERT 1.0, which includes the ALB Risk tool and the ALB Hazard Management and Monitoring 1.0 tool, supports eradication by linking the biology and behavior of the beetle with management activities on the ground.