Photo Credit: U of M Extension Office
Burtrum, MN – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) in Todd County for the first time.
MDA staff confirmed EAB infested trees along State Hwy 28 near Burtrum. Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Todd County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine of the entire county. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area. The MDA issues quarantines for all areas known to have EAB to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.
The insect larvae was discovered in Otter Tail and Wadena Counties last year. There are now 60 counties in the state, including Todd, with EAB.
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.
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