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Emerald Ash Borer

May 14, 2009: Emerald ash borer discovered in St. Paul, Minnesota. See news release.

What you need to know

Since 2002, emerald ash borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees in neighboring states. With the second largest concentration of ash trees in the country, Minnesota has much to protect. Here is what you need to know:

• Ash trees lack a way to defend against these pests. Once an ash is attacked, it will be killed.
• Look for 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in trees. These are the result of borers leaving the tree once they have become adults.
• Do not apply insecticides to ash trees out of the likely range of emerald ash borer.
• Do not transport firewood, even within Minnesota.
• Extension has close to 200 volunteers trained as emerald ash borer First Detectors. These volunteers can help homeowners determine if their ash trees have been attacked.
• If you think you have found emerald ash borer, go through the steps at Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) to be sure. Those without internet access can call Forest Resources Extension at 612-624-3020.

Emerald ash borer larvae, adult, and D-shaped exit hole

Resources

Identification

• Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) — University of Minnesota Extension
  • ¿Tengo el barrenador verde esmeralda del fresno? (Spanish) (419 K PDF)
• Insects in Minnesota that may be confused with emerald ash borer — University of Minnesota Extension
• Signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer (5 MB PDF) — Michigan State University
• Recognizing insect galleries in ash trees (3 MB PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Ash tree identification (8 MB PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Management

• State experts share their top tips for protecting trees from emerald ash borer — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Insecticide options for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer (260 K PDF) — emeraldashborer.info
• Insecticide options summary (shorter version of above) (128 K PDF) — University of Minnesota Extension
  
• Strategies for managing emerald ash borer introductions — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Preparing for emerald ash borer (50 K PDF) — Minnesota Emerald Ash Borer Science Advisory Group
• Minnesota emerald ash borer response plan (176 K PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture

General

• Emerald ash borer fact sheet — University of Minnesota Extension
• Emerald ash borer: the green menace (490 K PDF) — United States Department of Agriculture
  • Barrenador verde esmeralda del fresno: la amenaza verde (Spanish)
  • Tus kab tho ntoo av tshauv ntsuab: Tus looj koov ntsaub (Hmong)
• Information for homeowners — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Big trouble for ash trees — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Collect seed now to keep ash trees in Minnesota — University of Minnesota Extension
• Forest Pest First Detector program — University of Minnesota Extension
• National emerald ash borer website — emeraldashborer.info
• Emerald ash borer and ash tree care Q&A — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  • Barrenador esmeralda del fresno: Preguntas y respuestas (Spanish) (87 K PDF)
  • Tus kab tho ntoo av tshauv ntsuab: Lus nug thiab lus teb (Hmong) (86 K PDF)

Minnesota Department of Agriculture video—Invaders: Emerald Ash Borer

Contact for more information

Jeff Hahn, Extension professor, entomology
612-624-4977, hahnx002@umn.edu

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How Extension prepared for emerald ash borer (158 K PDF)