Could invasive beetle found on Long Island make its way to New Jersey?

From spotted lanternflies to the Joro spider , New Jersey residents have been introduced to their fair share of non-native species in recent years.

Now, a non-native beetle, first found in the United States in the early 2000s, is closer than ever to the Garden State as it was recently identified for the first time on Long Island, threatening serious damage to certain trees, CBS News reported .

The redbay ambrosia beetle was first detected in the U.S. near Port Wentworth, Georgia in 2002, according to the University of California, Riverside's Center for Invasive Species Research . The beetle, which is native to southeast Asia, was likely introduced in untreated wooden packing material, such as crates and pallets, imported through the shipment of goods.

By 2005, the beetle was fou