The emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to spread throughout Minnesota, infesting Ash trees and killing them. While early infestations may take four to six years to kill trees, established infestations can kill trees as quickly as one year. In the Twin Cities Metro Area, two new cities (Bloomington and Eagan) including one new county (Dakota), have positively identified infestations this winter. These new infestations revealed larvae damage that indicated multiple years of infestation, meaning EAB had gone undetected for at least four years while infesting surrounding trees. Waiting to see symptoms of EAB in your tree can be waiting too long to protect it.
While the historically cold temperatures of last winter may have reduced EAB populations, the pest continues to multiply at rates that far-exceed annual mortality and we cannot expect our winters to manage this pest for us. (source: USDA Forest Service, EAB and Extreme Cold)
Homeowners near infested trees (see MN Department of Agriculture’s map) are quickly running out of time to make a decision to protect or remove ash trees on their property. Choosing to wait until EAB gets closer to where you live, will soon not be an option. New infestations will continue to be discovered, and if you are not proactive in your planning, you are behind in your management.
For more information about treatment options, please contact us today 952-922-3810.
Learn more:
- Emerald Ash Borer Fact Sheet
- Emerald Ash Borer Treatment and Prevention
- Symptoms of Emerald Ash Borer
- Do you have an Ash Tree?
Recent articles on new infestations:
- Jan. 20, 2015 – Dakota County Prepares For Spread of Emerald Ash Borer, Star Tribune
- Jan. 08, 2015 – Emerald Ash Borer Moves Closer to Burnsville, Sun This Week
