This brings to a close the tree removal that began in November 2004 after the discovery of a large infestation in Carteret and Rahway. Follow-up surveys found more infested trees in Woodbridge and Linden, and the eventual widening of the quarantine zone also took the effort into Roselle Borough, Clark and Elizabeth.

Surveys will continue to be conducted in the area to ensure that the beetle has been eradicated. Follow-up surveys over the last several years in the site of an earlier infestation, Jersey City and Hoboken, showed that the protocol used by the Department and USDA was effective in removing the beetle from those municipalities.

In total, the eradication effort in Middlesex and Union counties resulted in the takedown of more than 23,000 trees. To date, nearly 5,000 replacement trees, all non-host varieties, have been planted by the NJ Forest Service. Spring and fall plantings will continue to replace the trees that were taken down.

The Davey Tree Expert Company, along with USDA tree climbers, continued follow-up climbing surveys in the Middlesex/Union County infestation, checking 328 trees in Carteret and Rahway.

TruGreen Chemlawn Co. treated a total of eight trees with soil injection in Carteret and Rahway, while 5,198 trees were treated with trunk injection in Carteret, Woodbridge, Rahway, Linden and Roselle.

Courtesy of Carl P. Schulze, Director, Division of Plant Industry, New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA). Anyone suspecting the presence of this beetle should contact the NJDA at 1-866-BEETLE-1 or (609) 292-5440. Please see our posting archive at http://www.pestmanagement.rutgers.edu/NJinPAS/listservpostings.asp to review previous NJDA updates from 2004 to present; query 'ALB' in search box.