According to reports, the state's department of agriculture said on Monday that a highly destructive beetle has invaded three New Jersey counties. Officials in Burlington, Somerset, and Mercer counties found the emerald ash borer beetle.

The insect attacks and kills ash trees. It was found in Bridgewater, Hillsborough, Westampton, Ewing and West Windsor In the three counties. According to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), the beetle spreads quickly and that municipalities should plan to tackle the problem.

The bug is known for attacking and killing ash trees. Death of these trees occurs some three to five years after the first infestation by the insect.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said in a statement, “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".

In the spring of 2014, a beetle was found in New Jersey and it killed tens of millions of ash trees in the country. According to reports, it was a metallic green bug approximately a half of an inch long and an eighth of an inch wide. Larvae of the insect cut off the nutrients flow after sinking into the bark of ash trees.

Officials are also asking residents and towns to become aware of the emerald bug and also know regarding protection of ash trees and dispose of the dead trees. The NJDA has also arranged traps for the bugs in 87 towns.