Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
How to spot and respond to Emerald Ash Borer, according to Minnesota Department of Agriculture guidance
Summary
MDA staff summarized how to identify Emerald Ash Borer (S‑shaped galleries, larvae with two tail spines, adults and D‑shaped exit holes), recommended when to treat or remove trees, outlined treatment options (professional emamectin trunk injections, homeowner soil drenches), and urged residents not to move firewood.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture on Tuesday laid out practical guidance for identifying Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and options for homeowners and communities managing ash trees. Jonathan Austis, MDA’s Emerald Ash Borer technical assistance coordinator, emphasized early detection and safe wood handling as the most effective public measures.
Identification and early signals: Austis said there are four main ways to identify EAB: distinctive S‑shaped larval galleries under the bark, larvae with two small tail spines, the adult beetle’s bright iridescent green elytra and reddish abdomen, and the D‑shaped exit hole adults leave when they emerge. He highlighted woodpecker feeding (flecking and dime‑sized shallow holes) and blonded bark patches in the mid‑to‑upper canopy as the most useful early indicators and recommended winter or early spring canopy checks when leaves are absent.
"Early detection is really important," Austis said, noting…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
