HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Tom Wolf proclaimed August Asian Longhorned Beetle Awareness Month in recognition of the danger the beetles pose for multiple Pennsylvania hardwood species.

“Healthy forests directly correlate to healthy waterways. Healthy waterways mean healthy communities and can directly impact the health of our economies. To maintain the health of each of these, we must be vigilant and watch for the Asian longhorned beetle,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding on August 14.

“Because it is similar in appearance to more common beetles, it’s important to accurately identify the pest and where it was discovered,” he added. “We’re asking residents to collect and submit suspected Asian longhorned beetles and note the location in which they were found.”

The adult Asian longhorned beetle is three-quarters to one-and-a-quarter inches long, has a jet-black glossy body with white spots on each wing, and long, black and bluish-white antennae.

If citizens suspect a sighting of Asian longhorned beetle, call the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s toll-free pest hotline at 866/253-7198 or send an email to badbug@state.pa.us.

Residents can also collect a sample and ship it to one of Pennsylvania’s 67 county Penn State Extension offices.