The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Informational Meeting for Pine and Renville Counties took place on March 8, 2024, organized by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The meeting aimed to educate attendees about the invasive species, its lifecycle, and its impact on local ash tree populations.

The session began with an overview of the EAB, a metallic wood-boring beetle native to Eastern Asia, including regions such as China, Korea, and Japan. The beetle was first identified in North America in 2002, specifically in the Detroit, Michigan area, and is believed to have arrived via solid wood packaging materials. By the time it was detected, significant damage had already occurred, with thousands of ash trees dead or dying.

Currently, the EAB has spread to 38 states and five Canadian provinces, with its presence in Minnesota first recorded in 2009. As of the meeting, EAB infestations have been confirmed in 50 counties across the state, with Pine and Renville Counties being the latest to report no infestations.

The lifecycle of the EAB was a key focus of the meeting. Adult beetles are typically active from May through September, with emergence occurring around late May to early June, depending on local temperatures. After emerging, the beetles engage in maturation feeding on ash tree leaves before mating. Females lay between 60 to 90 eggs in the bark of ash trees, primarily on the south or southwest-facing sides, where sunlight is most direct.

Once the eggs hatch, the larvae burrow into the tree's cambium layer, causing significant damage as they feed. The larvae undergo several growth stages before pupating and emerging as adults the following spring, continuing the cycle of infestation.

The meeting concluded with a call to action for local residents to monitor their ash trees and report any signs of EAB infestation. Participants were encouraged to engage in management practices to protect their trees and mitigate the spread of this destructive pest. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture emphasized the importance of community awareness and proactive measures in combating the EAB threat.