Emerald Ash Borer Identified in New Jersey (2014)

Emerald Ash Borer discovered in Bridgewater, NJ

A sad development for New Jersey’s trees….

Breaking news from the:
NEW  JERSEY  DEPARTMENT OF  AGRICULTURE
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0330
www.nj.gov/agriculture

For Immediate Release: May 21, 2014

INVASIVE EMERALD ASH BORER DETECTED IN NEW JERSEY State Agencies Implement Action Plan

(TRENTON) – New Jersey Department of Agriculture officials today confirmed that the emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees, has been found in Somerset County.  A landscaper investigating unhealthy trees in a retail area in Bridgewater last week alerted the Department.   Inspectors took samples and insect larvae were sent to the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Systematic Entomology Laboratory where the specimens were confirmed.

For the past four years the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (NJDA and DEP) have participated in an Emerald ash borer survey but none of the beetles were found in the more than 300 traps set up around the state.  Emerald ash borer had already been detected in Pennsylvania and New York counties bordering New Jersey.  “We have been rigorously monitoring the EAB’s movements and educating the public about what to look for in case the beetle entered our state,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher.  “Now, we will be informing homeowners about the actions they can take to protect their ash trees from this tree-killing insect.”

EAB is now present in 23 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.  It was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and has since killed tens of millions of trees.  “Since the emerald ash borer has been active just over our borders for quite a number of years, we expected that it would be found in New Jersey eventually,” said State Forester Lynn E. Fleming. “The DEP will work with the Department of Agriculture and other appropriate agencies to educate landowners on how to identify this invasive beetle and mitigate infestations.”

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 fluid-conducting vessels underneath.  The larvae feed and develop, cutting off the flow of nutrients and, eventually killing the tree.  EAB attacks and kills North American species of true ash, and tree death occurs three to five years following initial infestation. EAB is native to Asia.

The state will now survey trees in the area surrounding the initial find to determine the extent of the EAB infestation.  It is expected that a federal quarantine will be expanded to include New Jersey.  Homeowners who own ash trees can take steps to protect their trees.  Treatment products are available at local retail establishments and state-certified pesticide applicators can treat for EAB.

Signs of EAB include: canopy dieback beginning at the top of the tree and progressing through the year until the tree is bare; sprouts growing from the roots and trunk; split bark with an S-shape gallery; D-shaped exit holes; and more woodpecker activity, creating large holes as they extract the larvae.

To prevent spread of the beetle, do not move firewood.  Firewood is a vehicle for movement of tree-killing forest pests including EAB and Asian long-horned beetle.  Use locally-sourced firewood when burning it at home and when traveling, burn firewood where you buy it.  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.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/forest/community/Emerald_Ash_Borer.htm.

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If you have White or Green Ash trees on your property and live within a 25 mile radius of Bridgewater, NJ, it’s important to learn about EAB and what you need to do NOW prophylactically to protect these valuable hardwood trees.  

Organic Plant Care LLC’s certified tree expert and arborists are available to inspect, monitor and treat your ash trees for Emerald Ash Borer using an OMRI-approved injectable insecticide.  Azadirachtin, formulated from an extract of neem tree seeds, has proven effective in protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer by inhibiting the development of larvae, reducing adult emergence and providing biologically active concentrations in the foliage.

Watch the video below, courtesy of Clifford Sadof, Ph.D., Entomologist at Purdue University, to learn about the magnitude of the damage to Ash trees throughout the United States and research being done to raise predatory wasps that target the various growth stages of EAB.

Contact us for more information.