Officials: Invasive Beetle Found In 3 New Jersey Counties
TRENTON N.J., (CBS) – New Jersey Department of Agriculture officials reported Monday that the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, is active in five towns in three counties, according to a news release.
According to officials, municipal officials and residents of Bridgewater and Hillsborough in Somerset County, Westampton in Burlington County and Ewing and West Windsor in Mercer County are encouraged to visit the New Jersey Emerald Ash Borer website 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.
"Emerald ash borer is a fast-moving, highly destructive invasive pest, which could lead to the death of ash trees," said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher in a news release. "Now that the beetle is in New Jersey and is starting to spread, we ask that towns put plans in place to respond to the beetle."
Officials say 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 state has set up traps in ash trees to track EAB's potential spread in 27 Burlington County towns, three Camden County towns, eight Hunterdon County towns, 10 Mercer County towns, 11 Middlesex County towns, two Monmouth County towns, three Morris County towns, 15 Somerset County towns and eight Union County towns, according to officials. For the list of towns, go to www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/pdf/2015eabtraplist.pdf.
Officials say 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 also recommends not moving firewood. According to the news release, firewood is a vehicle for movement of tree-killing forest pests including EAB. Officials say use locally-sourced firewood when burning it at home and when traveling, burn firewood where you buy it. They also say make sure to burn all wood purchased.
Report signs of the beetle to the Department of Agriculture at 609-406-6939.
For more information about Emerald Ash Borer, visit www.emeraldashborer.nj.gov.
