New Jersey Department of Agriculture officials are reporting that the emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, is active in 14 towns in six counties.
A trapping program in 82 towns over the summer and reporting from homeowners has resulted in the discovery to date of the beetle in Allentown, Monmouth County; Edgewater Park and Westampton, Burlington County; Ewing, Hamilton Township, Hopewell, Princeton and West Windsor, Mercer County; Monroe Township and South Brunswick, Middlesex County; Hillsdale, Bergen County; and Bridgewater, Franklin Township and Hillsborough, Somerset County, according to a press release from the Department of Agriculture.
“Just as emerald ash borer has swiftly spread through other states in the nation, it has now moved to New Jersey, and we must prepare for the impact of this highly destructive invasive pest, which could lead to the death of ash trees,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “We ask that towns and counties act now to put plans in place to respond to the beetle.”
Municipal officials and residents of those towns and counties are encouraged to visit www.emeraldashborer.nj.gov where they can find resources on how to protect their ash trees or what to do with dead or dying trees.
The emerald ash borer was first discovered in New Jersey in May 2014 by a private citizen in Bridgewater. The insect is now present in 25 states and two Canadian provinces. It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of trees, according to the press release.
The adult emerald ash borer is a metallic green insect about one-half inch long and one-eighth inch wide, making it hard to detect in the wild. The female beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees. The eggs hatch, and the larvae bore into the bark to the fluidconducting vessels underneath. The larvae feed and develop, cutting off the flow of nutrients and eventually killing the tree. The insect attacks and kills North American species of true ash, and tree death occurs three to five years after initial infestation. The insect is native to Asia, according to the press release.
New Jersey is part of a federal quarantine to prevent the spread of the beetle, which prohibits movement of ash trees outside of the quarantine zone.
The Department of Agriculture also recommends not moving firewood. Firewood is a vehicle for movement of tree-killing forest pests, including the emerald ash borer. Use locally sourced firewood when burning it at home; when traveling, burn firewood where it was purchased and make sure to burn all wood that was purchased.
Report signs of the beetle to the Department of Agriculture at 609-406-6939.