A Review of the Host Plant Location and Recognition Mechanisms of Asian Longhorn Beetle

Simple Summary The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, is a destructive pest in its native habitat and one of the most serious invasive alien species in North America and Europe, causing substantial economic and ecological losses. In order to explore effective monitoring and management strategies, we summarize and create a comprehensive list of host plants, including 209 species (cultivars) that have been damaged by ALBs. Thus far, 143 olfactory protein genes have been found in ALBs. Host kairomones were preferentially bound to ALB recombinant odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), but the function of most OBPs is still unclear. Microbial communities may help ALBs degrade host plants. We analyzed the trapping effect of combined host kairomones and sex pheromones and found that trapping numbers are limited in the field. Therefore, we discussed host plant location behavioral processes from new perspectives and found that multiple cues are used to locate and recognize host plants. Overall, we suggest that further research should contribute to understanding the host resistance mechanism, microbial community influence mechanism, and visual cue recognition mechanism of host plants. This research may provide effective monitoring and management strategies for ALBs. The Asian longhorn beetle (ALB), Anoplophora glabripennis Motschulsky, is a polyphagous xylophage with dozens of reported host tree species. However, the mechanisms by which individuals locate and recognize host plants are still unknown. We summarize the current knowledge of the host plant list, host kairomones, odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and microbial symbionts of this beetle and their practical applications, and finally discuss the host localization and recognition mechanisms. A total of 209 species (or cultivars) were reported as ALB host plants, including 101 species of higher sensitivity; host kairomones were preferentially bound to ALB recombinant OBPs, including cis-3-hexen-1-ol, delta-3-carene, nonanal, linalool, and beta-caryophyllene. In addition, microbial symbionts may help ALB degrade their host. Complementarity of tree species with different levels of resistance may reduce damage, but trapping effectiveness for adults was limited using a combination of host kairomones and sex pheromones in the field. Therefore, we discuss host location behavior from a new perspective and show that multiple cues are used by ALB to locate and recognize host plants. Further research into host resistance mechanisms and visual signal recognition, and the interaction of sex pheromone synthesis, symbiont microbiota, and host plants may help reveal the host recognition mechanisms of ALBs.