Emerald ash borer confirmed in Watonwan County
Emerald Ash Borer larva. Photo: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
State officials have confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer in Watonwan County for the first time.
Friday, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) said that Watonwan County is the 38th county in the state where emerald ash borer has been found since 2009.
The insect’s larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients in the trunk.
Due to the new discovery of the ash borer in Watonwan County, MDA is enacting an emergency quarantine to limit the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.