A review of non-microbial biological control strategies against the Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Authors: JOHNSON, COURTNEY - North Carolina State University; COYLE, DAVID - Clemson University; Duan, Jian; LEE, SEUNGHWAN - Seoul National University; LEE, SEUNGHYUN - Chinese Academy Of Sciences; WANG, XIAO-YI - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; Wang, Xingeng; OTEN, KELLY - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2024
Publication Date: 11/20/2024
Citation: Johnson, C.L., Coyle, D.R., Duan, J.J., Lee, S., Lee, S., Wang, X., Wang, X., Oten, K.L. 2024. A review of non-microbial biological control strategies against the Asian longhorned beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Environmental Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvae116.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvae116

Interpretive Summary: Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is a high-risk invasive pest, attacking various healthy hardwood trees. Following its invasion in North America and Europe, efforts have been made to discover and evaluate ALB natural enemies in its native and invaded regions to develop biological control tactics for this serious pest. We review biological control strategies for ALB, including the exploration within the native and invaded ranges of the pest, to find potential BCAs, highlight several biological control agents (BCAs) that have been evaluated which could support a more environmentally friendly management strategy to supplement traditional ALB management tactics. We summarize current research progress and challenges and discuss future research directions. While biological control shows promise, care will be needed in utilizing this method, and further research must explore the success of BCAs in field settings.

Technical Abstract: The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), is a polyphagous wood-boring beetle that infests and damages hardwood host trees in Asia, Europe, and North America. Native to China and the Korean peninsula, ALB is invasive in both North America and Europe. Due to the large environmental and economic costs associated with ALB, much effort has been placed on its management and eradication from invaded areas. Management programs consist of visual surveys, regulatory quarantines, mechanical host removal, public outreach and education, and in some cases, insecticides. Host removal is effective but is laborious and costly, and while insecticides have been useful as a component of some eradication programs, they can be expensive, ineffective, and environmentally detrimental. Thus, several biological control agents (BCAs) have been evaluated which could support a more environmentally friendly management strategy to supplement traditional ALB management tactics. Here we review biological control strategies for ALB, including the exploration within the native and invaded ranges of the pest, to find potential BCAs. We discuss the ecological premise behind the method as well as the potential for its success, and we identify knowledge gaps and future considerations for enactment of this method. While biological control shows promise, care will be needed in utilizing this method, and further research must explore the success of BCAs in field settings.