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The Asian Longhorned Beetle: Photo by NASAThe Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is keeping an eye out for an invasive beetle from China that destroys hardwood trees, and is asking residents to help.

The adult Asian Longhorned Beetle attacks several kinds of hardwood trees including maple, birch, horsechestnut and willow. The adult females chew though the bark where they lay their eggs. The larvae bore into the trees further and emerge through round holes in the spring. The beetle was recently found in Worcester, Massachusetts, increasing the risk that it could end up in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment station says the beetle is a threat not only to trees, but to the nursery, maple syrup and forest industries. Early detection can help eradicate it. The beetle is black with white spots on the back. And has white bands on each segment of a long antenna.

Experiment station entomologists are asking people not to mail live insects or wood samples to them as the insect could escape and spread further. Instead they suggest people freeze any suspect insects and contact the experiment station.