State confirms emerald ash borer in Crow Wing County, enacts quarantine

BRAINERD — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirmed emerald ash borer in Crow Wing County for the first time.

A suspected infestation was discovered near Brainerd, the agriculture department reported in a Monday, Jan. 29, news release. Larvae were later found, and samples were collected. Federal identification confirmed the samples as emerald ash borer.

Because this is the first time emerald ash borer has been identified in Crow Wing County, the state is enacting an emergency quarantine of the county. The quarantine limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

The agriculture department issues quarantines for all areas known to have emerald ash borers to reduce the risk of further spreading the tree-killing insect.

The destructive pest 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 the larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer. Also, emerald ash borer tunneling can cause the bark to split open, revealing characteristic S-shaped galleries underneath.

A virtual informational meeting for residents and tree care professionals in Crow Wing County will be 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8. Experts from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will give a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

Register at mda.state.mn.us/eab.

The public will also have an opportunity to provide input on the proposal to add Morrison County’s emergency quarantine to the state’s formal quarantine. The state is taking comments on the proposed formal quarantine now through March 11 and recommends adopting the quarantine on March 13.

There are now 48 counties in the state, including Crow Wing, with emerald ash borers. The agriculture department also recently confirmed more of the insect was found in Cass County, expanding the quarantine area there.