Minnesota

New invasive insect elm zigzag confirmed in Minnesota

Published

5 months ago

August 6, 2024

New invasive insect elm zigzag confirmed in Minnesota

A new invasive insect has been confirmed in Minnesota for the first time.

The state Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that the elm zigzag sawfly was found on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.

The insect — native to east Asia, and first found in the U.S. in 2021 — is named for the distinctive pattern that its larvae leave when feeding on elm leaves. Prior to this year, the insect’s spread in the U.S. had mostly been confined to states on the East Coast.

“The potential impacts of the elm zigzag sawfly are unknown because of the short period of time it has been present in the United States. Although the insect causes defoliation of elm trees, most defoliated trees can recover from a defoliation event,” the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said. “Best management practices are also unknown. However, since most trees can recover, management may not be necessary.”

Gifts from individuals keep MPR News accessible to all – free of paywalls and barriers.

The discovery of the elm zigzag sawfly in Minnesota stemmed from a citizen report on the iNaturalist platform for sharing nature observations.

State agriculture officials said an out-of-state college student studying the invasive insect saw that report, and Minnesota officials were notified. Experts at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History.

The unique pattern of leaf damage left by larvae may be the easiest way to locate the insect. State agriculture officials said those larvae are “green with a black band on their head. They have T-shaped brown or black markings on the top of their second and third pair of legs.”

Experts at North Carolina State University created a website with more photos and information about elm zigzag sawfly.

Minnesota agriculture officials said they’re looking for the public’s help to determine where elm zigzag sawfly is in the state. Suspected sightings can be reported online on the state’s “Report a Pest” site, or by calling (888) 545-6684.

Source link

Minnesota

Minnesota staff drops in on 2026 ATH Roman Voss

Published

1 hour ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota staff drops in on 2026 ATH Roman Voss

The Minnesota coaching staff was on the road on Monday dropping in on top in-state prospects. Among those that the Gophers spent time with is elite in-state prospect Roman Voss.

The four-star prospect is ranked as the top prospect within Minnesota and a top-15 athlete nationally. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Voss does a little bit of everything for Jackson County Central, playing quarterback, tight end, linebacker, and safety.

At the next level, many programs are looking at Voss as a likely tight end or linebacker where his 4.6 speed would be best utizilzed. The Gophers are among those teams and currently view him as a tight end.

Voss is among the Gophers’ top targets in the 2026 recruiting cycle and has already amassed a strong offer sheet with offers from Cal, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Wisconsin, and of course the Gophers.

Source link

Minnesota

Minnesota high school sports: Scores and results for Monday, Jan. 6

Published

9 hours ago

January 7, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota high school sports: Scores and results for Monday, Jan. 6

• Orono 218.5, Benilde-St. Margaret’s 189, Bloomington 147.5. Medalist: Bennett Erickson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 49.71.

• Benilde-St. Margaret’s 190, St. Louis Park 170, Bloomington 169. Medalist: Ava Krueger, St. Louis Park, 50.28.

EASTERN MINNESOTA ATHLETIC

• Avail Acad. 68, Twin Cities Acad. 55

Source link

Minnesota

Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms

Published

17 hours ago

January 6, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota task force recommends decriminalization of magic mushrooms

MINNEAPOLIS — A task force is recommending the decriminalization of magic mushrooms.

A nearly 200-page report from the Minnesota Psychedelic Medicine Task Force said psilocybin mushrooms show evidence they may improve mental health.

Logan Fleischman co-owns Wonderland Mushroom Dispensary in St. Paul, a shop specializing in mushroom-infused gummies and drinks that tout supposed real-life health benefits.

“We’re not saying that this certainly will give you energy or will give you focus, but for some people, it does help,” Fleischman said.

Fleischman does not sell “magic mushrooms,” also known as psilocybin mushrooms, that cause hallucinations and are still illegal.
However, news of a state task force report that lays out potential health benefits, gives Fleischman hope.

“Really helping combat things like depression, anxiety, PTSD,” Fleischman said.

By a two-thirds supermajority, members of the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force are recommending the Minnesota Legislature create a state-regulated clinical program for the therapeutic administration of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, while removing criminal penalties for their use, and allocating for more funding for research on psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms.

The task force also looked at a clinical program for synthetic drugs like MDMA and LSD, but that didn’t garner enough support. There also was not enough support for a recreational market for magic mushrooms.

“The report itself is meant to be a long-term resource for the state,” said Jessica Nielson, chair of the task force. “We do need someone in the legislature to actually introduce the bill and move it through the system.”

Minnesota Sen. Mark Koran, R-North Branch, a member of the task force, is optimistic.

“If we can get a true environment to have some research done and find an effective way to administer it, and we have the resources to do it here, then I would be all for moving it forward,” Koran said.

Jason Rantala