The third invasive Anoplophora: Citizen science facilitates uncovering massive abundance of non-native A. horsfieldii (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in South Korea

Abstract

The longhorned beetle genus Anoplophora contains highly destructive species in the field of invasive entomology. Recently, the establishment of the non-native member of the genus, Anoplophora horsfieldii (Hope, 1843), has been documented in South Korea. However, the degree of impact of A. horsfieldii in invaded area remains uncertain due to the limited number of individuals surveyed, making it harder to classify them as invasive. This study combines data from both citizen scientists and naturalists to investigate the occurrence status and distribution range of A. horsfieldii. In total, 1,156 individuals were collected, with 1,124 of them collected in 2023 alone. Citizen-contributed data accounted for 52.5%, enabling us to estimate the preliminary occurrence period and population peak. This research identifies A. horsfieldii as the third invasive species within the genus Anoplophora and underscores the importance of citizen science in early detection and ecological surveys of invasive species.