More emerald ash borer in the United States

Mar 27, 2015

Pest also confirmed in North Carolina and Minnesota

Hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock and other ash items in Wayne County, North Carolina are quarantined from being moved within or out of the state after their Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler signed an emergency quarantine due to the presence of the emerald ash borer.

Wayne County joins Granvile, Person, Vance and Warren counties under quarantine. North Carolina is one of at least 20 states to confirm the presence of the destructive pest’s existence.

“This discovery comes as our Plant Industry Division prepares to begin placing traps, readying for beetle emergence in April. Staff will be setting out traps statewide looking for signs of this pest in other locations,” Troxler said. “If you see the purple, triangle-shaped traps, please do not disturb them. We ask for the public’s cooperation with these quarantine rules to restrict the movement any further.”

In Minnesota, Anoka County is the latest to come under quarantine because of the emerald ash borer.

The other counties quarantined in Minnesota are Dakota, Hennepin, Houston, Olmsted, Ramsey and Winona.

“We encourage residents to go out this time of year and look at their ash trees for signs of emerald ash borer,” said Minnesota Department of Agriculture Entomologist Mark Abrahamson. “Looking for EAB, reporting possible infestations, and following quarantines will allow for us to slow the spread of EAB and limit the impacts of this pest in Minnesota.”

Minnesota has about one billion ash trees – the most in the United States.

Symptoms of emerald ash borer in trees include the loss of leaves. Increased woodpecker activity is an indication as well because they feed on the pests. Adult beetles will leave an exit hole shaped like a D and there can also be snake-like channels under the bark.

Join the conversation and tell us if you’ve had any experiences with the emerald ash borer. What kind of preventative measures did you take to ensure they were kept under control?

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