Emerald ash borer confirmed in Waseca County
Emerald Ash Borer larva. Photo: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has proposed an emergency firewood quarantine in Waseca County following the discovery of emerald ash borer (EAB) larvae in the area.
The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash wood material out of Waseca County in hopes of stopping the spread of the insect.
The Waseca County EAB was discovered by a local Minnesota Department of Natural Resources forester who noticed woodpecker damage on ash trees in Janesville.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff members were able to obtain live larvae from the site, and federal identification confirmed the larvae as emerald ash borer.
EAB larvae tunnel under the bark of ash trees, causing damage and death to the tree.
EAB has now spread to 32 counties in Minnesota after first being found in the state in 2009.
A map showing EAB in Minnesota can be found here.
More information on EAB can be found here.