City Longhorned Beetle (Aeolesthes sarta)
City Longhorned Beetle (Aeolesthes sarta) is known from India (Western Himalayas), Pakistan (north), Afghanistan,
Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan (south). The origin of this insect is believed to be
Pakistan and Western India. It has spread west into Afghanistan and Iran and north into the Central Asian countries,
where it was first found in the 1920s, and continues to increase its range in the Central Asian countries
(Orlinski et al. 1991). It is not known to occur in north America but it has a high potential for establishment
here due to climate and host availability. A number of broadleaf tree species in the genera Ulmus, Populus,
Salix, Platanus, Malus, Prunus, Pyrus, Juglans, Quercus, Betula, Fraxinus, Acer, Morus, Geditsia, Robinia,
Elaeagnus are potential hosts for city longhorned beetle.
A. sarta requires two years to complete a generation (Pavlovskii et al. 1955, Ahmad et al. 1977, Maslov 1988,
Orlinski et al. 1991, Vorontsov 1995). Adults emerge in April or early May and are generally active in the
evening and at night. During the day they hide under the bark, in larval tunnels, and in other refuges. The
males appear first, and are active until morning on the same tree on which they developed. This species flies
very little. Usually several generations develop on the same tree until it is eventually killed.
Large emergence holes are found on trunks and large branches of infested trees. Boring debris occurs at the
base of infested trees, and beetles are sometimes observed on infested trees. Dieback and tree mortality
occurs as a result of heavy infestations. Adults are large longhorned beetles with an elongated dark gray-brown
body, about 28-47 mm long. The elytra (wing covers) are covered with a fine, silvery pubescence. Shiny silvery
spots form two irregular bands crossing the elytra. The male is usually smaller than the female. The males have
antennae 2.5 times as long as their body, whereas the antennae of females are shorter than their body. The eggs
are white, about 3-4 mm long. The larvae are pale yellowish in color and covered with golden hairs. They are
about 60-70 mm long, with black mandibles (Orlinski et al. 1991, Vorontsov 1995).
This pest is suitable for early detection survey due to Ohio's favorable climate, its abundance of suitable
hosts and the potential impact on Ohio's environment and agribusiness. If you suspect you have found a city
longhorned beetle infestation contact the Ohio Department of Agriculture
Plant Pest Control Section.
Fact Sheet
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