Southern Pine Beetles Eating Their Way Through Ocean County

A large infestation of Southern Pine Beetles have been munching their way through more than 80 large Pitch Pine and Short Leaf Pine trees on Hilliard Boulevard in Manahawkin.

That means some of the affected trees will have to come down, Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. said.

“While no one likes to cut down trees, this action is the only way to keep the public safe and curtail the destruction being done by the beetles," said Bartlett, who serves as the liaison to the county Parks and Recreation Department.

Affected trees on other county-owned properties have already been removed from the Forge Pond Golf Course in Brick, the administration building at Cattus Island County Park and Ocean County Park in Lakewood, he said.

Work to remove 82 trees along Hilliard Boulevard is scheduled to begin the week of Dec. 12, weather permitting.

“The dead trees can become a safety hazard in the area as the pines being removed are capable of impacting the traffic along Hilliard Blvd,” Bartlett said. “Pine trees impacted by Southern Pine Beetles dry out very fast and have the potential to fall in one piece. For this reason, we are removing those trees within a set distance from the roadway.”

For several years now beetles have been found gnawing away at thousands of trees located in some of Ocean County’s parks and on vast acres of land preserved for open space. The Southern Pine Beetle, which is the size of a grain of rice, can kill thousands of trees within weeks, according to a county press release.

Warming winters may have contributed to the increase in infestation.

"In the past the beetle would damage individual trees as part of the natural order, and has not really been a problem," the release states "In the last 5 to 6 years, however, it has... attacked increasing numbers of trees throughout New Jersey."

In 2010, state surveys showed 14,000 acres of trees destroyed statewide. The beetle’s primary target is the native Pitch Pine, but it will attack other evergreen species such as Loblolly Pine, Norway Spruce and White Pine.

“Removing large, mature trees is not pleasurable, but it is necessary in certain instances to preserve the remaining trees and more importantly for public safety,” Bartlett said. “When you see the Parks and Recreation Department removing trees, know that they are working diligently to protect you and also the healthy trees in the surrounding areas.”

Images: Treefarmsystem.org