Intensive hunting of longhorn beetles: traps installed everywhere in Magdeburg!

Intensive hunting of longhorn beetles: traps installed everywhere in Magdeburg!

In Magdeburg, intensive action is currently being taken against the Asian long-horned beetle (ALB). The Saxony-Anhalt State Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (LLG) has stepped up the fight against the harmful beetle in order to protect local deciduous trees. Loud World the measures are now in a crucial phase. Christian Wolff, head of the LLG department, emphasizes that the increase in temperature will soon usher in the beetle's flight phase.

As part of the fight, over 250 pheromone traps have been installed in the quarantine zone, which covers around 50 square kilometers. These traps, which predominantly attract female beetles, have been positioned on more than 250 trees and are an important monitoring tool for identifying infested trees People's voice reported. Every discovery of an ALB in the traps is a signal to intensify the search for further infected breeding trees.

Monitoring and control

The Magdeburg city gardening department monitors the traps weekly to keep an eye on the ALB. These traps are intended primarily for surveillance, not for direct combat. Monitoring is complemented by planning strategies based on experiences since 2014, when the beetle was first spotted in the Rothensee district.

• Pheromonfallen zur Überwachung installiert seit Ende Mai 2025.
• Fallen ziehen primär Weibchen, aber auch Männchen an.
• Wirkungsradius beträgt etwa 100 Meter.

The LLG is also calling on the public to help: Reports of suspicion can be made via the ALB hotline 03471/334253, and citizens are asked not to damage or steal the traps.

The danger of the longhorned beetle

The Asian longhorned beetle is one of the most dangerous tree pests in the world and was mostly introduced via packaging wood. This pest shows characteristic symptoms including bark lesions with sap flow and large oval larval burrows in the wood. The infestation primarily endangers native hardwood species, which can lead to the death of the trees if the infestation is severe.

The LLG emphasizes that it is possible to replant affected areas with suitable trees in a timely manner. While the control measures have been ratified in accordance with EU Implementing Decision 2015/893, environmental protection requirements must be observed in the event of a confirmed ALB infestation. This includes, for example, felling trees within a 100 meter radius of the affected specimens.

The situation is serious and the measures taken are crucial to stop the spread of this pest and preserve the native flora. Only through consistent monitoring and the active help of citizens can the ALB be stopped.