A highly invasive type of beetle, called the emerald ash borer, has been detected in three counties in New Jersey, according to the state's Department of Agriculture. The announcement came after reports of deadly jellyfish sightings in New Jersey beaches.
The destructive beetles have been spotted by authorities in Somerset, Mercer and Burlington, and within these counties, insect populations were specifically noted in Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Ewing, West Windsor and Westampton.
Citizens are advised to be prepared to act against the insects since the pests are becoming increasingly rampant, says Douglas H. Fisher, New Jersey's Secretary of Agriculture. The beetle is said to attack ash trees in particular and, since 2014, tens of millions of these trees have been destroyed when the species were first discovered.
The emerald ash borer beetle is a bug that measures about half an inch in length and one-eighth of an inch in width. It has a green metallic color and spreads swiftly, making the New Jersey agriculture department highly persistent in its immediate precautionary measures.
The beetle first situates itself in the ash tree, allowing its larvae to get absorbed by the bark of the tree. The larvae then interrupt the supply of nutrients to the tree as they eat up the bark from the inside out. Because of this, the barks of infested trees may be observed to have unique grooves.
"As the insect's feeding, it's cutting off all the transport of nutrients and water going up," explained Paul Kurtz, entomologist at the agriculture department.
In a strong attempt to alleviate the emerald ash borer problem in New Jersey, the entire state has been placed under federal quarantine. Certain articles cannot leave the boundaries if they do not possess federal permits. However, the movement of regulated materials within the boundaries are permitted even without federal authorization.
Experts say that the effects of the beetle population can still be considered fairly small; however, the only thing they can do is to manage the spread accordingly since total stoppage may not be possible. Monitoring the insects' movement is one intervention that can help manage the spread. Authorities have set up traps particularly in Burlington and Chesterfield.
The presence of different types of trees is essential to the welfare of the forests, and cutting them down due to infestations may put the environment in an unhealthy state in the future.
Photo: Chris Waits | Flickr
