State environmental officials say the warmer temperatures have hastened the arrival of southern pine beetles. The bugs kill pine trees by burrowing into trunks and leaving behind a fungus.
The Department of Environmental Protection tells The Press of Atlantic City that about 7,000 acres of pine trees were lost to the beetles last year, and twice as many the year before.
The beetles have already been detected in 26 towns, mostly in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. DEP workers are cutting infested trees on state lands.
Federal grant money is available for towns, counties and private owners to help combat the beetles' spread.
Grant applications can be found at www.southernpinebeetle.nj.gov.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City, http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
