Red Necked Longhorn Beetle

About the Red Necked Longhorn Beetle

Aromia bungii, commonly known as red-necked longhorn beetle, is a species of wood-boring beetle belonging to the family of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) that is native to eastern Asia. It was described by the entomologist Franz Faldermann in 1835 from Mongolia. It is common and native in different parts of China and South Korea and has been reported from the neighboring parts of Vietnam, North Korea, far eastern Russia and Japan. Further, the beetle is invasive in Europe (first record in 2010) and Japan (first record in 2012), spreading with wood-packing materials and through infested nursery plants. As of 2025, infestations in Europe have been reported from different regions in Italy as well as from southern Germany. A. bungii is a pest of live fruit and ornamental trees from the genus Prunus (Rosaceae), in particular peach, cherry, plum and apricot trees. The larval stages feed mainly under the bark on the sapwood but can also bore into the heartwood. The infestations can cause considerable damage, with heavy attacks resulting in a reduction of fruits and growth, up to tree death. More than 50% of the trees in an orchard may be affected. For preventing infestations, painting a lime-sulfur mixture or other substances on the bark is practiced. Other management options include the use of pesticides and traps. In invaded areas, monitoring and quarantine procedures to prevent further spread is important. The adult beetles are around 25-35 mm long and can be recognized by the combination of the reddish pronotum and shiny black elytra. The red pronotum by itself is not sufficient for identification as some forms of the related species Aromia moschata also have a red pronotum. The females lay eggs in cracks in the bark, mainly at the base of the trees. Upon emerging from the eggs, the larvae tunnel into the trunk. They are whitish and reach a length of up to 50 mm when fully mature. Wikipedia →