EAB spread across Minnesota continues to accelerate

A rising variety of timber in Minnesota have gotten infested with the emerald ash borer, or EAB.

The insect has been detected in 35 counties within the state, together with simply this week in Kandiyohi County, the place an emergency quarantine on wooden is now underway.

“Emerald ash borer is a non-native invasive insect that originates from Asia. It was first detected in Minnesota in 2009. It most likely arrived right here on delivery supplies,” mentioned Emily Ball, a metropolis forester in Lakeville. “Emerald ash borer is devastating. In reality, it’s been referred to as probably the most devastating tree pests that the USA has ever handled.”

Ball mentioned ash timber in Lakeville are on an exponential dying curve because of the pest.

“Final yr, we discovered about 60. This yr, we’ve discovered about 900,” Ball defined. “The larvae tunnel beneath the bark and disrupt the movement of water and vitamins and kill the ash tree. Persons are shedding, in some communities, entire neighborhoods of timber.”

The Minnesota Division of Agriculture estimates a whole bunch of 1000’s of timber have been impacted up to now, statewide.

The company mentioned EAB spreads when the bugs reproduce and fly brief distances however the unfold accelerates when folks transfer infested firewood.

“We are able to see yearly the variety of infested timber rising by leaps and bounds,” mentioned Jeff Hafner, a consulting arborist at Rainbow Treecare.

Hafner mentioned all householders within the metro who’ve ash timber needs to be involved concerning the unfold of EAB.

He recommends injecting ash timber with an insecticide to guard them, which he mentioned can prevent a major sum of money in the long term.

“For $100 a yr you’ll be able to preserve a mature tree, offering many advantages, which pales compared to the price of elimination, which could be many 1000’s of {dollars} relying on the place that tree is,” Hafner mentioned.

Ball additionally voiced urgency in the case of defending wholesome timber.

“For Lakeville and the south metro, this can be folks’s final alternative to guard their tree with injection as a result of emerald ash borer is accelerating,” Ball mentioned.

Hafner added, “We should always actually admire the mature tree cover and look to take any motion to put it aside whereas there’s nonetheless time.”

For extra data on emerald ash borer, click on right here.

To see a map of impacted areas in Minnesota, click on right here.