Hopewell Township will host an information session about how ash trees are succumbing to an invasive beetle on Wednesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. at 201 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville.
Jason Grabosky from Rutgers University faculty in ecology evolution and natural resources, as well as a member of the emerald ash borer task force in New Jersey, will lead an open forum to discuss options and plan steps for action.
Described as the most devastating blow to American forests since chestnut blight and Dutch elm disease, the small, metallic-green beetle, about the size of a grain of rice (3/8 to ½-inch long and 1/16-inch wide) is an invasive wood-boring beetle. Its native range is eastern Russia, northern China, Mongolia, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
The beetle’s first North American populations were confirmed in the summer of 2002 in southeast Michigan and in Windsor, Ontario. Judging by the size of the infestations and the stage of damage to the infested trees, the beetle was likely introduced to the area in the early to mid 1990s. It is believed that the beetle was introduced into North America in ash wood used for shipping pallets and packing materials in cargo ships or shipping containers.
It was first discovered in New Jersey in May 2014, and the impact on the forest ecology could be devastating.
At the session, learn about updates on EAB biology (life stages, management options, leading-edge biological control trials.) Professional resources available to identify EAB infestations will be described, as will state Department of Environmental Protection guidelines.
