Most Iowans are familiar with the Asian ash beetle and the threat this insect poses to our leaves, but we are also being warned to watch out for another insect that is equally deadly to a much wider variety of trees.

According to Rhonda Santos, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, August is “tree inspection month,” and homeowners in Iowa should inspect their trees for the Asian longhorned beetle and report any evidence they find of the invasive pest.

“Now is the best time to look for and report signs of the Asian longhorned beetle in your yard and neighborhood,” says Santos. “This wood-boring beetle attacks many tree species and is a threat to our shade trees, recreational areas and our forest resources.”

Unlike the Asian ash beetle, the Asian longhorned beetle likes to feed on a wide variety of trees, including ash, birch, elm, sycamore, maple, horse chestnut, poplar and willow. The beetle has distinct markings and leaves a series of holes and other marks in trees that allow for its quick identification.

“The beetle is easily identified by its black and white antennae, black body with white spots and six legs,” says Santos. “The beetles leave round holes and scars in the tree bark, leave sawdust-like material around the tree and can cause branches to fall off.”

The beetle is not native to the United States and has few to no natural enemies. Santos encourages Iowa residents to take five minutes and carefully examine their trees for these round holes or sawdust.

Santos says, “If you see these signs, take photos and capture the insects to help the USDA identify them.”

The beetle was first spotted in the United States in New York in 1996 and spread quickly. It is one of a group of invasive pests and plant diseases that cost the country about $40 billion in tree, plant and crop losses each year. For more information or to report insect or tree damage, visit www.asianlonghornedbeetle.com.