Interception of non-native Stromatium longicorne (Newman, 1842) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in South Korea

Wood-boring beetles, including longhorned beetles, are significant exotic insects that disperse outside their native habitats due to global trade. Detection and accurate identification of these beetles pose challenges due to cryptic behavior of larvae and their similar external morphology. In this study, we focus on the identification of two unidentified longhorned beetle larvae found in a wooden Gymboree toy and a wooden bed frame. Both larvae died during rearing, with confirmed lifespans of at least 6 and 7 years, respectively. Molecular identification using mitochondrial COI gene successfully identified larvae as Stromatium longicorne (Newman, 1842) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), a species inhabiting various species of dry woods and native to Southern Asia. The detection of S. longicorne in South Korea confirmed the case of non-native longhorned beetles introduced through processed wood products. This discovery adds a new non-native longhorned beetle species to South Korea and raises concerns about potential establishment of subtropic insects through processed wood products and under warmer conditions due to global warming.