Back
Woodbridge News
|
Public Information Meeting on Asian Longhorned Beetle
|
September 8, 2004
Media Advisory. . . Media Advisory. . . Media Advisory. . .
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Council Chambers, Town Hall, 1 Main Street, Woodbridge
_______________________________________________________________________________________
WOODBRIDGE – A public meeting scheduled for 7 p.m.Thursday, September 16, at Town Hall in Woodbridge will focus on educating residents about the Asian Longhorned Beetle and enlisting them in the effort to halt its spread, said Mayor Frank G. Pelzman.
“This is a public information meeting where we hope to alert residents to the problem,” said Mayor Pelzman, “while giving them enough information about the beetle to identify it and aid with the eradication effort.”
Michael Boehne and Barry Emens of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Carl Schulze of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture are among the experts leading the hunt who will present information and answer questions. New Jersey Agriculture Secretary Charles Kuperus will moderate the meeting.
A USDA tree-cutting quarantine has been in force in Middlesex, Union and Hudson counties since Aug. 20 to stop the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. The quarantine restricts the movement of firewood, green lumber, nursery stock or fallen-off logs half an inch or more in diameter.
“In the fight against this invasive pest, alert residents have proven to be our most effective weapon,” said
Secretary Kuperus. “We were first alerted to the insect’s presence in Carteret by a resident who noticed the beetle on a backyard tree and called authorities.Then another resident, having seen a news report about the effort to eradicate this pest, alerted us to what turned out to be a large infestation along the border with Rahway.”
Residents who believe they have seen the beetle or notice a tree that may be infested should call the USDA Asian Longhorned Beetle hotline at 1-866-233-8531.
To date, several sites in Carteret and the Avenel section of Woodbridge have trees infested with the insect. In all, about 400 infested trees have been found in the area, including along Carteret’s border with Rahway. Tree climbers, surveyors and other specialists have been searching the area, visiting properties and inspecting trees.
Mayor Pelzman said that even though notice of the emergency restrictions had been issued via the Township’s Reverse 911 calling system, WTT-35/36 television channels, Township web site and Woodbridge Works newsletter, the public meeting was called to allow residents the chance to ask questions of experts directly. “We want people to be aware of the problem and watchful as the autumn months progress,” he said. “The restrictions will be in force until the Department of Agriculture determines the infestation is eradicated from our area.”
Asian Longhorned Beetles, native to China and North Korea, have caused serious tree losses in New York State and Chicago but have been found attacking trees only once before in New Jersey – in Jersey City in October 2002. More than 100 infested trees at that site were removed to eradicate the beetle.
Asian Longhorned Beetles are about 1 to 1.5 inches long and have a shiny black exterior with white spots. Their name comes from their long antennae, which are banded black and white. The beetles typically attack one tree and migrate to others when their populations become too dense.
The beetle can wreak havoc on hardwood trees such as maples, horsechestnuts, birches and elms. The female bores into the bark to lay her eggs. Once hatched, the grub-like young burrow deeper into the tree until finally reaching the woody tissue. A year later, as adults, they burrow back out.
Signs of Asian Longhorned Beetle infestation include:
‑ Large round holes anywhere on the tree, including branches, trunk and exposed roots
‑ Oval or rounded, darkened wounds in the bark
‑ Large piles of coarse sawdust around the base of trees or where branches meet the main stem
The USDA has promised to replace each tree removed with a new tree. “We would rather let nature take its course in matters of local ecology,” said Mayor Pelzman, “but we are pleased the government is prepared to assume a lead role in maintaining our precious fund of healthy trees.”
Anyone suspecting the presence of this beetle should contact the NJDA at 1-866-233-8531 or (609) 292-5440. For more information, visit the APHIS Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov and click on Asian Longhorned Beetle under "Hot Issues" or visit the Rutgers Cooperative Extension web site at www.rce.rutgers.edu/presentations and click on Asian Longhorned Beetle under “Plant Agriculture”.
|
©2000
MIS Department
|