The Asian long-horned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) is a native beetle species of Japan, Korea, and China. Sky beetle is the other name of Asian long-horned beetle. It is thought to be one of the serious threats in China especially on trees like shelterbelts and hardwood trees.
Asian Long-horned Beetle Facts
Anatomy
- The adult sky beetle reaches a length of about 1 to 1.5 cm (0.39 to 0.59 in) with the antennae that is 2 times longer than the beetle’s body.
- They have got 4 cm (1.6 in) long antennae.
- Sky beetles are recognized by their shiny black body with some white spots on it.
- Beetles are not regular fliers but when they do it’d be only for short distances. The size and weight of the beetle rarely allows it to take a smooth flight.
Distribution
- Asian long-horned beetle occurs in the eastern Asia including Korea, Japan, and China. In North America, they are likely to be found in Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, and Massachusetts. Ontario also hosts large number of sky beetles.
- Its range also extends to Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Italy.
Habitat
- They make homes in a variety of tree habitats such as maple, elm, willow, mulberry, black locust, and poplar. Other habitats include birch, ash, Sorbus, katsura, and planes.
- Adult beetles are known to consume leaf petioles and vascular cambium.
- They will travel 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from their host trees.
Behavior
- Beetles are mostly most active during summer and in the months of fall.
- They live in infested trees and remain there for all year round.
- Female beetles are thought to consume holes in the bark where they also lay eggs.
- They will not attack all the trees (say hardwood trees) at once instead beetles might finish off one tree then they proceed further.
- Asian long-horned beetle may also fly hundreds of feet but in a windy area they can go even further.
Lifecycle
- A female beetle lays 45–62 eggs in her entire life. These eggs measure 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) in length.
- Eggs hatch in about 13–54 days but its duration mainly depends on the temperature.
- Larvae reach a length of about 50 mm (2.0 in) with the width measuring about 5.4 mm (0.21 in).
- The lifecycle of the beetle begins when the temperature is around 10 °C (50 °F).
- In captivity, sky beetle has an average lifespan of about 6 months.
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