SALEM, Ore. (KPTV) — State forestry officials are warning the public about an invasive wood-boring insect that threatens fruit trees and timber across Oregon.
The velvet longhorned beetle, scientifically known as Trichoferus campestris, is native to Asia and Russia. It was first spotted in eastern Oregon’s Umatilla County in 2019, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture confirmed its presence in Multnomah County in 2022.
According to the Oregon Department of Forestry, the beetle infests a variety of deciduous and conifer species, including apple, cherry, peach, and mulberry trees. It can also bore into dry and green wood, such as commercial timber and lumber. Infestations can slash fruit production, degrade wood value, and shorten tree lifespans…