This invasive insect from Asia targets ash trees. First detected in the United States in 2002, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is now found in fourteen states centered on the Great Lakes basin. Approximately 130,000 square miles are considered infested, representing 7 percent of the native range of North American ash species. The total value of the annual harvest of ash timber is estimated at $150 million. Many species of ash are riparian, filling important niches in the ecosystem, and ash has been widely planted in urban landscapes. In FY 2010, APHIS anticipates spending $37.2 million to protect the nation’s remaining ash resource from emerald ash borer. Photo by the US Department of Agriculture

Minnesota

Emerald Ash Borer found in Minnesota’s Kandiyohi County

An emergency quarantine on wood movement has been put in place for a portion of Kandiyohi County by Minnesota officials.

by Clark Kent

May 25, 2022

1 min read

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Kandiyohi County for the first time. There are now 35 counties in the state, including Kandiyohi, with EAB.

A tree care company contacted the MDA after suspecting a tree on the west side of Nest Lake near Spicer was infested with EAB. MDA staff were able to find live EAB larvae and collect samples. Federal identification confirmed emerald ash borer.

EAB was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009. The insect larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, EAB tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.

Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Kandiyohi County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine which limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area. The emergency quarantine will cover the northeast corner of the county, from U.S. highways 71 and 12 on the western and southern borders, respectively, and the county line on the northern and eastern borders.

The MDA issues quarantines for all areas known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Kandiyohi County will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Experts from the MDA will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

Emerald Ash Borer virtual informational meeting

Wednesday, June 8, 2022
10-11 a.m.
Register at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab

The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add the partial Kandiyohi County emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The MDA is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through July 8, 2022, and recommends adopting the quarantine on July 12, 2022. The proposed quarantine language can be found at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab.

Clark Kent

Clark Kent came to the city of Metropolis to study journalism at Metropolis University. After graduation, Clark took a job at the Daily Planet as a reporter. Under the direction of editor-in-chief Perry White, he quickly gained a reputation as a journalist who was unafraid to cover the injustices of the city, including its political corruption .