The beetle has been hitching a ride from China to the United States in wooden packing materials in shipments of pipe, granite blocks, and heavy machinery. So far, it has only caused damage in two urban areas although it has been spotted in warehouses in 14 states and Canada. But the economic price tag will be high if it infests rural forests, such as Vermont's sugar maple stands. This will be severely impacted if the insect gets into Vermont and becomes established. He adds that the insect also attacks poplar, ash, birch, elm, and other hardwood species.
Maple makes up roughly a third of the total.
If the Asian longhorned beetle gets into veneer stands of cherry and maple, that could have a tremendous impact on the economy. The beetle has become the poster child for exotic, invasive insects. We got involved right away. We realized early on that the only way we could hope to eradicate it was to get as many people as possible out looking for it. They have received more than 2,000 calls from concerned citizens.