Emerald ash borer found in Clay County

Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of emerald ash borer in Clay County for the first time – and in northwest Minnesota for the first time. The invasive insect has now been reported in 39 counties.

A Moorhead city forester found evidence of EAB while pruning trees. A tree had visible woodpecker damage… and when the bark was peeled back, galleries and insect larvae were present.

Ag Department staff collected the suspected samples….and federal identification confirmed emerald ash borer.

Because this is Clay County’s first EAB confirmation, the Ag Department has enacted an emergency quarantine of the western portion of the county, from State Highway 9 west to the North Dakota border, which limits the movement of firewood and ash material out of the area.

The insect larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Often, the trees show several signs of infestation because of this. Woodpeckers like to feed on EAB larvae, and woodpecker holes may indicate the presence of emerald ash borer.