This project aims to support the south carolina asian longhorned beetle eradication program by exploring ways of optimizing asian longhorned beetle field detection strategies that are critical to…

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded Clemson University a cooperative agreement totaling $104,662 on March 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Control program (CFDA 10.025) to support the South Carolina Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program.

Clemson's Division of Research will continue development of a predictive model and simulation tool for Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation across the four active U.S. infestations in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina. Year-three activities include updating the model with current survey data, integrating dendrochronological analysis to refine estimates of the relationship between tree infestation duration and adult beetle production, and expanding the simulation tool to areas without existing infestation data. The deliverable is a technology transfer of an infestation simulation tool usable by Asian Longhorned Beetle program personnel nationwide. Work is performed in South Carolina through February 28, 2027, with the intended beneficiary being Plant Protection and Quarantine staff and state forestry departments conducting eradication efforts.

This project aims to support the south carolina asian longhorned beetle eradication program by exploring ways of optimizing asian longhorned beetle field detection strategies that are critical to eradication efforts. This is the third year in a project to compile data from the four active asian longhorned beetle infestations in the united states (MA, NY, OH, SC) and create models to predict where asian longhorned beetle is likely to infest trees. In previous work, the cooperators: •examined how infestation probability acts as a function of source pressure, host tree diameter, and distance to the nearest infested tree •used those parameters for at-risk trees across time to create a basis for modeling asian longhorned beetle spread •began designing a usable, shareable tool that can be used to simulate asian longhorned beetle spread under different invasion management practices for all four infested areas. Activities to be performed: in the third year of the agreement, the cooperators will: •continue to update the model with current survey data •incorporate dendrochronological analysis from plant protection & quarantine science &technology for further refinement of the model. This will include estimates of the relationship between how long a tree has been infested and how many adults IT P roduces (measured by the number and age of exit holes) •expand the simulation tool to areas where infestation data do not yet exist. Deliverables and expected outcomes: this year's work will improve the accuracy of the asian longhorned beetle prediction model by using up-to-date field survey data and by integrating dendrochronological data for comparison to field infestations. The deliverable will be a technology transfer of an infestation simulation tool that will be usable by asian longhorned beetle program personnel throughout the united states. Intended beneficiary(IES): plant protection & quarantine staff working on asian longhorned beetle eradication efforts state departments of forestry and agriculture logging industry, maple syrup industry the public, through protection of natural resources.