(BISMARCK) – The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has announced the detection of emerald ash borer in LaMoure County.
The ag department said adult emerald ash borers were collected from a trap in LaMoure County, nine miles north of Edgeley. Upon follow-up, additional larvae were collected.
The detection is the first in the state of North Dakota. North Dakota is now the 37th state to detect emerald ash borer.
“The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and our partners have been preparing for emerald ash borer’s eventual arrival for many years,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “We have been placing and monitoring traps each summer and promoting awareness through outreach events, training and communication with the public. Now that it is unfortunately here, we urge North Dakota residents and travelers to be proactive to keep EAB from spreading.
EAB is a wood boring insect originally from Asia, first found in the U.S. in 2002. It has since spread to 37 states and killed hundreds of millions of ash trees.
“North Dakota has more than 90 million ash trees that are at risk in native, rural and urban forests,” State Forester Tom Claeys said. “Ash trees make up between 20% – 80% of the trees along city streets and parks. Unless treated, infested ash trees can be killed in a few years.”
The state is now restricting movement of regulated commodities from LaMoure County. Travelers should leave firewood at home, and purchase or gather from local sources. Anyone caught moing regulated materials from a quarantined area to a non-quarantined area could face penalties of up to $5,000.
The state ag department will collaborate with the state forest service and NDSU Extension to determine the extent of the infestation, along with continued monitoring of ash trees. Residents should check their ash trees for sign of an infestation, which include dieback, S-shaped tunnels, small D-shaped exit holes and woodpecker activity in the upper canopy of the tree.
