City of St. Paul Park 

Minnesota officials on alert after Wisconsin reports emerald ash borer near La Crosse.

Officials urge Minnesotans to avoid transportating firewood.

Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees.  With an estimated 900 million ash trees, Minnesota is a prime target for EAB. 

The metallic-green adult beetles are a half inch long, and are

active from May to September.  Signs of EAB infestation include one-eighth inch, D-shape exit holes in ash tree bark and serpentine tunnels packed with sawdust under the bark.  EAB larvae kill ash trees by tunneling into the wood and feeding on nutrients inside the tree.  While EAB spreads slowly on its own, it can hitch a ride to new areas when people transport firewood or other wood products infested with the larvae. 

More information about the pest and its impact can be found on teh MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us.  DNR also is offering more information on its forest health site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/treecare/forest_health/index.html.