Red-necked longhorn beetle

The red-necked longhorn beetle (Aromia bungii) is a destructive quarantine pest classified within the Cerambycidae family of the order Coleoptera. Originally native to East Asia, this beetle is currently considered a major threat to global horticulture and forest ecosystems due to its ability to kill healthy trees.

The primary hosts of this pest include various species of the Rosaceae family, with a strong preference for the genus Prunus, including peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries. The beetle causes significant economic damage to both commercial orchards and ornamental plantations by boring into the heartwood.

The biological cycle of A. bungii typically spans two to four years. Females deposit eggs into cracks and crevices of the tree bark. Upon hatching, the larvae bore into the bark and eventually penetrate deep into the woody tissue, constructing tunnels that disrupt the transport of nutrients and water throughout the plant.

Symptoms of infestation are often identified by the presence of frass (a mixture of wood shavings and excrement) at the base of the trunk or at branch junctions. Other signs include gum exudation from holes in the bark and canopy thinning, which eventually leads to complete tree mortality if left unmanaged.

Control strategies for the red-necked longhorn beetle are largely based on strict phytosanitary regulations to prevent its movement through nursery stock. In infested areas, sanitation measures, including the removal and complete destruction of affected trees by burning or chipping, are the most effective way to eliminate the breeding population.