More than 450 trees removed due to an Asian longhorned
beetle infestation in Jersey City are being replaced
as part of ongoing state and federal efforts to eradicate
the destructive insect, Agriculture Secretary Charles
M. Kuperus and Department of Environmental Protection
Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced today.
"The Asian longhorned beetle is a major threat
to New Jersey's maple and other hardwood trees," said
Secretary Kuperus. "The removal of infested
trees, as well as potential host trees in the affected
area, was the most effective way to protect our residential
forests. We're pleased those trees now are being
replaced with non-host species that further our ability
to control this dangerous insect."
"It is imperative that we take prompt action
to control invasive species, such as the longhorned
beetle, and other threats to forest resources," Commissioner
Campbell said. "Federal and state foresters
are to be commended for acting quickly to prevent
this damaging pest from spreading."
The Asian longhorned beetle was first detected
in Jersey City in October on a largely commercial
site located north of the Newport Parkway and east
of Washington Boulevard. Through a cooperative state
and federal control effort, 113 infested trees and
348 potential host trees were removed from the area
earlier this year.
The trees are being replaced through a $477,228 grant from the U.S. Forest
Service to the Department of Environmental Protection's Community Forestry
Program. Most of the grant will reimburse the landowners, the Lefrak
Organization and James Monroe Condominium Association, for tree replacement
costs. To date, approximately 350 new trees have been planted, with 110
additional trees expected to be planted by July 31. The remainder of
the grant will pay for an Asian longhorned beetle outreach program that
will provide statewide training in longhorned beetle detection as well
as professional longhorned beetle assessment and monitoring in the northeast
section of the state.
In addition to the Jersey City tree removals, more
than 1,000 potential host trees in Jersey City and
Hoboken were treated with the insecticide Imidacloprid
to prevent the beetle from spreading. A quarantine
remains in effect in portions of Jersey City and
Hoboken within a 1.5-mile radius of the affected
site. It prohibits the movement of firewood, green
lumber, and other living, dead, cut or fallen material
- including nursery stock, logs, stumps, roots and
branches - from potential host trees from the quarantined
area.
State and federal agricultural officials are optimistic
these efforts have successfully controlled the insect.
Nevertheless, they urge the public to be alert for
signs of the beetle, which typically emerge from
a period of winter dormancy in late June to early
July.
The beetles are about 1 to 1-1/2 inches long, are
black and shiny with white spots, and have long distinguishable
antennae that are banded with black and white. They
attack many different hardwood trees, primarily maple
but also horsechestnut, willow, elm and boxelder.
To lay her eggs, the female beetle chews small
oval or round niches in the outer bark of the tree.
When immature worm-like beetles hatch, they bore
into trunks and branches and create immense tunnels
for themselves inside the trees. The adult beetles
chew their way out, usually in late spring or early
summer, leaving round exit holes about the size of
a dime in their wake.
The Asian longhorned beetle control effort is spearheaded by the Department
of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, and includes the City of Jersey City, the
City of Hoboken, the Department of Environmental Protection's Community
Forestry Program and the U.S. Forest Service. |
