Lawrence Township To Cut Down Trees To Combat Emerald Ash Borer

Lawrence Township, NJ -- Lawrence Township has set aside about $100,000 for a project to cut down some ash trees infected with the Emerald Ash Borer beetle and treat others, centraljersey.com reports.

It has also received a $30,000 grant from the state to replace some of the trees, according to the report.

The project, which only covers trees in the town’s rights-of-way and on public property, is expected to last several years, and begin in the fall with the removal of 30 ash trees along Dix Lane.

Emerald Ash Borer is a non-native insect that measures 1/2” long and 1/8” wide, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

It is metallic green, with a metallic copper red abdomen. An image is attached to this post.

Its larvae cut through the bark of an infested tree in order to kill it. A tree infested with Emerald Ash Borer lives about 3-4 years.

The larvae are white or cream colored, measure approximately 1 to 1 ¼” long and have 10 abdominal segments that are bell shaped. It lives for about a year.

Emerald Ash Borer was first discovered in 2002 and has since been found in 27 states since. They have killed tens of millions of ash trees.

Patch file photo

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