This pest has been brought into the US from Japan through shipment of goods. Its host is Mulberry and figs. The USDA are surveying where this beetle has currently spread. Luckily we don't have it in our area but I want you guys to be aware of it if you see one in your area. 
Be very careful, if you see this destroy it or report it to the USDA. We don't need a fig pest spreading around. 

It is called Spotted longhorn beetle. This is how it looks like. 

Oh great!  Wonder what kind of damage it does.  Sucks on the leaves, i bet?  Bummer!  Kinda looks like a orange lady bug.

We use a consumer version of a commercial insecticide called Merit in our vineyard.  Very pricy, but very effective against a rampant vine killer called the glassy winged sharpshooter which can wipe out an entire vineyard.  It's not harmful to humans, but it's systemic and any bug eating leaves will die. 

I feel a big responsibility because there are tons of commercial vineyards around here, and I don't want our litle vineyard to be the cause of the death of their livlihood.  We spray our figs and other fruit trees too.  You never know.

Suzi

what's it called?

Here is actual name: yellow spotted longhorned beetle (Psacothea hilaris).

Bass' photo is actually incorrect, I found it hard to get the right one as well. Very little information is available on this pest.
Here are larvae in a fig branch.


Here is an adult:



Here is an article for Gorgi: http://www.maltarightnow.com/?module=news&at=Insett+li+jista%27+jwassal+g%26%23295%3Ball-qirda+ta%27+frott+Malti&t=a&aid=99829401&cid=19

THIS is the real, known threat: http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=111&fr=1&sts=sss&lang=EN

I see my state on list but i have yet to see this bug , i tell you we seem to get the nasty's from Asia.

The emerald ash borer also from Asia is destroying all the ash tree's here as town is cutting down all of them estimated at 3-5 thousand tree's.
Im lucky as i do not have these on my property but most do cause they were free 20-30  something years ago when this area was built.

You are right, Martin!  Wonder why we import the nasty bugs and borers, but not their natural predators?

Suzi

That is how Australia became infested with cane toads Suzi. In order to release a new species into the country, on purpose, the USDA first tests to see if other beneficial native species in the same family as the pest will be harmed. It takes years of study and costs millions of dollars so it does not happen very often. And without a population of the target invasive for the predator to feed on they could just die out after being introduced. They offer some control sometimes, but can never wipe an invasive species out completely.

Found this article with pictures of the critter. They bore deep into the wood and can be passed around easily.

http://resistance.eppo.int/QUARANTINE/Alert_List/insects/psacothea_hilaris.htm