The state has decided to quarantine ash trees and products in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties to help prevent the spread of an invasive beetle responsible for killing ash species throughout North America.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced Friday that it was implementing the quarantine in those two counties, after the metallic-green winged beetles were detected in 39 trees last month in Randolph.

While the emerald ash borer was first detected in the United States in 2002, and has since spread to 13 states, it’s the first time an infestation has been confirmed in New York.

The state needed to take aggressive steps, said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis.

“After assessing the current infestation and consulting with national experts, businesses and other stakeholders, the state determined that establishing a quarantine area was the best way to protect the more than 900 million ash trees here in New York,” Grannis said.

The quarantine order prohibits the movement of ash both within the two counties and beyond, and applies to:

Any size of ash lumber, logs and trees, including leaves, bark, stumps, limbs, branches and roots.

Any item made from or containing ash wood.

Wood chips and bark mulch larger than an inch, as well as firewood of any species. Even though the beetles attack ash trees, it’s hard to differentiate between ash and other hardwoods once its spilt.

Businesses such as nurseries, landscapers, loggers, sawmills and firewood retailers would be affected order leaves room for ash movement as long as there’s certification or a compliance agreement issued by the Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Inspectors already have started providing regulatory information to nurseries and firewood dealers in the area.

“We will be working closely with both our federal and state cooperators in the implementation and oversight of the regulations and order regarding this pest,” said Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker.

“However,” Hooker said, “our success in slowing the spread of this destructive pest will be dependent upon the cooperation and assistance of the regulated industries and the general public.”

The Empire State Forest Products Association, whose membership includes furniture companies, lumber manufacturers and timber harvesters, said its committed to working with state and federal agencies to minimize the impact of the beetle.

“The association and its members are impressed with the efforts taken by our state agencies in response to the Randolph outbreak,” said Kevin S. King, president of the association. “White ash trees are an important part of our forest and source of lumber for baseball bats, furniture, flooring and implement handles.”

The beetles, native to Asia, lay eggs on ash bark. The eggs hatch into larvae, which feed below the bark and create S-shaped tunnels that disrupt the transport of water and nutrients to the tree, eventually killing it.

Outside Randolph, no other infestations have been reported to date, said Maureen Wren, a DEC spokeswoman.

More than 1,300 traps have been set up within a seven-mile radius around the Randolph area, and crews will revisit those traps in August to determine if the infestation has spread, Wren said.

Some 6,000 traps have been set up throughout New York to monitor the spread of the beetles.