Heads up! It’s time to look for signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle.

August is Tree Check Month

Michigan’s Invasive Species Program is joining with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in asking the public to look for and report signs of the invasive Asian longhorned beetle.

Each year, APHIS declares August as Tree Check Month because this is the most likely time to see the beetle and the damage it causes to trees. Everyone can help look for signs of this destructive beetle by checking trees on their property and in their community for damage. The Asian longhorned beetle, or ALB for short, is a non-native, wood-boring beetle considered invasive in North America because it attacks at least 12 types of hardwood trees, including maples, elms, horse chestnuts, birches and willows. There are no predators or diseases in North America to keep ALB populations in check. In its larval stage, the insect feeds inside tree trunks and branches during the colder months. The beetle creates tunnels as it feeds, and then it chews its way out as an adult in the warmer months, creating large, round exit holes approximately 3/8 to 1/2-inch in size.

Why be concerned?

Infested trees do not recover and eventually die. They also can become safety hazards since branches can drop and trees can fall, especially during storms.

Isolated infestations in several states have caused the removal of thousands of trees in neighborhoods, parks and natural areas.

Although ALB has not yet been discovered in Michigan, it is crucial to look for any potential signs of its presence. Discovering early signs of infestation can prevent widespread damage to the state’s forest resources, urban landscapes and maple syrup production.

Look for signs

The adult beetle has markings that are easy to recognize: A shiny, black body with white spots. Its body is about 1 to 1.5 inches long. Black and white antennae that are longer than its body. Six legs with feet that can appear bluish. Signs that a tree might be infested include: Round exit holes about the diameter of a pencil found in tree trunks and branches. Shallow, oval or round scars in the bark, where the adult beetle chewed an egg-laying site. Material that looks like wood shavings lying on the ground around the tree or in the branches. Dead branches or limbs falling from an otherwise healthy-looking tree.

Be aware of look-alikes

Several beetles and bugs native to Michigan often are mistaken for the Asian longhorned beetle, but there are differences to be aware of:

• The white-spotted pine sawyer has a distinctive white spot below the base of its head – between its wings – and is dull black to bronze in color.
• The brown prionid is a common native longhorned beetle distinguished by its overall brown color and lack of patterns on its wings or antennae.
• The cottonwood borer is about the same size as the Asian longhorned beetle and is also black and white, but has a pattern of single, broad black stripes down each wing, and its antennae are all dark.
• The northeastern pine sawyer reaches up to 2 inches in length, has very long antennae and is gray in color.
• The eastern eyed click beetle has distinctive eye circles on the back of its head. It rolls over when threatened, then clicks and makes a flipping movement to get back on its feet.

Report signs of ALB

If you think you found a beetle or tree damage, report it by calling the ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938. Or submit an online report through the ALB web page. Try to photograph the beetle or tree damage. If you can, capture the beetle in a durable container and freeze it. This helps preserve the insect for identification.

Don’t move firewood

ALB doesn’t move far on its own, but it can and has hitchhiked to new areas in untreated firewood. When traveling, leave firewood at home and purchase what you need locally or choose certified, heat-treated firewood to help prevent this destructive pest from showing up at your favorite places. For more information about ALB, call the USDA at 1-866-702-9938 or visit APHIS.USDA.gov/Plant-Pests-Diseases/ALB.

Note to editors: Accompanying photos are available below for download. Caption information follows.

ALB on twig: In August, the Asian longhorned beetle emerges from trees to feed on leaves and bark before mating, laying eggs and starting another generation of tree-killing beetles. Photo courtesy of the ALB Eradication Program.

Identification: The Asian longhorned beetle is a large, shiny black beetle with irregular white spots and black and white, banded antennae. Photo courtesy of USDA APHIS PPQ.

Adult and frass: Material resembling wood shavings at the base of a tree or tree branches is a sign of Asian longhorned beetle infestation. Photo courtesy of the ALB Eradication Program.

WSPS: The white-spotted pine sawyer is native to Michigan and often mistaken for the Asian longhorned beetle. Look for a white spot between the upper wings to identify this pine sawyer. Photo courtesy of William M. Ciesla, Forest Health Management International, Bugwood.org.

Prionid: The brown prionid is a native longhorned beetle that’s all brown with no distinctive marks on its wings or antennae. Photo courtesy of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.

Cottonwood: The cottonwood borer’s antennae are all black. Photo courtesy of Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org.

NEPS: The northeastern pine sawyer is a large beetle reaching 2 inches in length. Its body is primarily gray with white and black spots. Photo courtesy of Jim Brighton.

Eyed beetle: The eastern eyed click beetle is distinguished by large circles on the back of its head. Photo courtesy of iNaturalist.

Help your community go green: Apply for Michigan’s $100,000 tree planting grant program

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the DTE Foundation and ReLeaf Michigan, is offering $100,000 in grant funding through the DTE Foundation Tree Planting Grant Program. This initiative supports community tree planting efforts across Michigan. The DNR is now accepting applications for the 2025-26 grant cycle. The program provides financial assistance to communities served by DTE Energy’s electric and natural gas services. Grants are available to support projects that plant trees away from utility lines along streets, in parks and near schools – all of which can help to mitigate climate change, enhance local beauty and engage residents in environmental stewardship. Since 1996, this grant program has been a joint effort between the DTE Foundation and the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program to improve communities and the environment through tree planting. ReLeaf Michigan, the only statewide nonprofit dedicated to tree planting and homeowner education, was added to the program to provide technical support to grantees and help ensure successful and sustainable tree planting efforts. “At the DTE Foundation, we believe that real change takes root when communities come together,” said Rodney Cole, the foundation’s president. “Tree planting is more than an environmental initiative; it’s a way to bring neighbors together, strengthen local pride and create healthier, more vibrant places to live. “We’re proud to support this work alongside dedicated partners like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and ReLeaf Michigan, whose efforts continue to strengthen our communities and protect the environment for future generations.” Application info Applicants can request up to $4,000 with a 1-to-1 matching requirement. Additionally: Applications must be submitted through DNR MiGrants by Sept. 15. Grant awards will be announced in October 2025. Projects must be completed by Sept. 1, 2026. Learn more and apply for a tree planting grant at Michigan.gov/UCF. About the DTE Energy Foundation The DTE Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy with a strong legacy of community support and involvement. In 2024, the Foundation provided $14.5 million in grant support to 375 nonprofit organizations in communities where the company has a business presence, with a focus on driving positive, meaningful change in priority giving areas: arts and culture, community transformation, economic progress, education and employment, environment and human needs. As one of Michigan’s leading corporate citizens, DTE aspires to be the best in the world and the best for the world. Visit DTEFoundation.com to learn more.