Emerald Ash Borer detected in 3 Counties of New Jersey

New Jersey's Department of Agriculture has stated that the emerald ash borer has been detected in the state's three counties - Somerset, Mercer and Burlington. In these counties, the population of high invasive type of beetle was found especially high in Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Ewing, West Windsor and Westamptom.

Douglas H. Fisher, New Jersey's Secretary of Agriculture, said that with time, these insects are getting out of control. Therefore, there is a need to take steps against them. In New Jersey, the species was discovered in 2014.

Since that time, the beetle has destroyed tens of millions of ash trees. The emerald ash borer beetle, around half an inch in length and one-eighth of an inch in width having green metallic color spread quite rapidly.

Due to the species, the New Jersey agriculture department remains quite alert and determined when it comes to immediate precautionary measures. Experts said that the beetle first adjust itself in the ash tree, letting its larvae to be absorbed by the tree's bark.

After the larvae settles, it starts disrupting the supply of the nutrients to the trees. It gradually eats the bark from inside out. "As the insect's feeding, it's cutting off all the transport of nutrients and water going up", affirmed Paul Kurtz, entomologist at the agriculture department. With an aim to reduce the problem, New Jersey is under federal quarantine.