Update 8/23: In our comments section, journalist Andy Birkey notes:
The entomologist in me is obliged to say it's a member of the jewel beetle group as opposed to the weevils, but the headline writer in me loves EVERYTHING about this headline construction! [end update]
One of the worst invasive species threatening Minnesota is the Emerald Ash Borer, although much of the Minnesota Legislature is loath to invest the money necessary to respond to this insect-cased disaster (unlike the state response to Dutch Elm Disease in the 20th century).
Just in from the Minnesota Departure of Agriculture under the headline, Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in Martin County:
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has placed Martin County under an emergency quarantine after emerald ash borer (EAB) was found northeast of the city of Welcome. A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) trap captured several insects in the area.
Because this is the first time EAB has been identified in Martin County, the MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine to limit the movement of firewood and ash material out of the county. This will reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect. Currently 15 other Minnesota counties are under full or partial quarantine to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer.
“Since the nearest EAB infestation we know of in Minnesota or Iowa is several counties away, we can be certain that emerald ash borer was brought to Martin County by someone moving infested ash,” said Kimberly Thielen Cremers, Supervisor of MDA’s Pest Mitigation and Biocontrol Unit. “The only way to protect Minnesota’s ash trees is to stop moving firewood and other ash products around the state.”
There are three easy steps Minnesotans can take to keep EAB from spreading:
- Don’t transport firewood. Buy firewood locally from approved vendors, and burn it where you buy it;
- Be aware of the quarantine restrictions. If you live in a quarantined county, be aware of the restrictions on movement of products such as ash trees, wood chips, and firewood; and,
- Watch your ash trees for infestation. If you think your ash tree is infested, go to www.mda.state.mn.us/eab and use the “Do I Have Emerald Ash Borer?” guide. Suspect infestations can be reported to MDA’s Arrest the Pest line at 1-888-545-6684 or [email protected].
Emerald ash borer 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. The invasive insect was first discovered in Minnesota in 2009 and is now found in 30 states.
Minnesota is highly susceptible to the destruction caused by EAB. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the nation.
We'll have more on other recent developments in the state's EAB discussions as we delve into the statements about EAB from state lawmakers serving Martin County and vicinity.
Map: We've added Martin County (shaded red by BSP but not outlined to the Minnesota Department of Ag's Emerald Ash Borer Infestation Map. Learn more about EAB quarantines in MN here.
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The entomologist in me is obliged to say it's a member of the jewel beetle group as opposed to the weevils, but the headline writer in me loves EVERYTHING about this headline construction!
Posted by: Andy Birkey | Aug 23, 2017 at 07:04 PM