Certified Arborist Practice Exam

Which insects are known to bore into the wood of trees?

1. Adelgid

2. ALB

3. Spider Mite

4. White Pine Weevil

The correct answer is: ALB

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is a notorious pest that specifically targets hardwood trees by boring into their wood. These insects are known for their destructive feeding habits, where the larvae excavate tunnels within the tree’s vascular tissue after hatching from eggs laid on or near the tree. This behavior disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients, ultimately harming the tree's health and structural integrity. In contrast, other options like the adelgid and spider mite do not bore into wood; instead, adelgids are primarily pests of foliage that feed on the sap of trees, and spider mites also target leaves by sucking out cell contents. The white pine weevil affects the tree's terminal growth, but its impact doesn't involve boring but rather girdling stems. Therefore, the clear identification of ALB as a wood-boring insect is grounded in its biological behavior and the type of damage it causes to its host trees.