Status of Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota
Plant Protection Division
Prepared January 2016
Background
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is
an invasive wood-boring beetle discovered in the
U.S. near Detroit, Michigan, in 2002. Through
2015, EAB has since been found in 25 states and
two Canadian provinces and is responsible for
killing millions of ash trees. All ash trees native to
Minnesota are considered highly susceptible to EAB
and, with about one billion ash trees in our forests
and ash making up about 15 percent of trees in the
average community (Minnesota Department of
Natural Resources, 2010), we have a lot to protect.
A single generation of EAB is completed in one
to two years. Eggs are laid during the summer on
trunks and branches of ash trees. Larvae hatch from
the eggs and tunnel beneath the bark. Larvae make
distinct “S”-shaped (serpentine) galleries and feed
where the bark and wood meet and where nutrients
flow throughout the tree. Larvae may spend the
winter inside chambers in the outer sapwood, bark,
or in feeding galleries, and some larvae will feed
another summer before completing development.
Adults emerge from ash trees through a distinct
“D”-shaped exit hole during May through September.
Upon emergence, adults will feed on ash leaves
in the canopy before mating and laying eggs.
Emerald ash borer gallery.
Trees are killed by continual larval feeding of the insect, and tree mortality accelerates as EAB populations
increase in density. Although the beetle is capable of spreading to nearby areas through flight, the primary way
that EAB is spread to new areas is through transport of firewood or other woody material from ash trees.
2015 Summary
There was a big increase in the number of known EAB-infested counties in Minnesota during 2015 from six at the
end of 2014 to 12 at the end of 2015. This has been particularly notable after a long period with no new EAB finds.
The lag between the first discoveries of infested counties in the Twin Cities (2009) and the next (2014) is remarkable
given the abundant opportunities for movement of wood harboring EAB out of the most populous region of the
state. In fact, it is clear that the spread of EAB in Minnesota has been much slower than the spread in most other
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infested states in the U.S. when comparing the percentage of counties infested with EAB with the number of
years of infestation. Minnesota is now going on seven years of known EAB infestation and has consistently had
a rate of spread one-fourth that of the national average. There are likely a number of factors at work but potential
reasons for this difference include climate, aggressive management, and adherence to quarantine requirements.
The recent expansion of known infested counties is troubling because this pattern of slow growth, or lagphase, followed by rapid population growth and spread is a recurring pattern for EAB. Minnesota has
enjoyed a longer lag-phase of EAB spread than most parts of the country, but it may be over.
In a worst-case scenario we should expect to see the EAB-infested areas in Minnesota increase exponentially
in a manner similar to the past year. This would mean that by 2020 we might expect to find EAB in at
least half of the counties in Minnesota - a big increase. While reality may not match this scenario, there are
some compelling reasons to expect the spread of EAB to increase substantially in the near future.
Foremost among these reasons is experience. The pattern of EAB infestations elsewhere is clear: there is a lag-phase
followed by a period of rapid spread of EAB and a rapid loss of ash trees. This cycle has been termed the “death curve”
and is well known to communities who have gone through it. While the growth and spread of EAB in Minnesota
has been slower than expected, we should still expect that a similar pattern will ultimately play out here as well.
In addition, EAB is now beginning to invade more rural areas of the Twin Cities. There are fewer options for
managing EAB in rural settings than there are in urban settings. In an urban area there are fewer trees, individual
trees are more highly valued, and there is greater access to and control over trees. This means that management
actions such as removal of infested trees or insecticide treatments are more practical in urban than rural areas.
Although biological control is an option in both settings, in rural areas it is the only practical management strategy
EAB Timeline
2009
April: Victory, WI. Adjacent Houston County, Minnesota quarantined
May: St Paul, MN. Ramsey County and adjacent Hennepin County, quarantined
2010
February: Minneapolis in Hennepin County
April: Upper Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Houston County
2011
September: Interstate 90 / County Road 12 and Great River Bluffs State Park, Winona County quarantined
2012
2013
August: City of Superior, Wisconsin
2014
August: City of Rochester, Olmsted County quarantined
December: Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Dakota County quarantined
2015
March: City of Ham Lake, Anoka County quarantined
April: City of Rushford, Fillmore County quarantined
August: Rural Chisago County and City of Prior Lake, Chisago and Scott Counties quarantined
October: Rural Washington County and Park Point, City of Duluth, Washington County and Park Point quarantined
Timeline of emerald ash borer events in Minnesota.
2
for large areas. For example, in southeast Minnesota, EAB has been primarily found in rural areas and EAB
density has been much higher than the urban Twin Cities. As EAB invades more rural areas of the Twin Cities
and Minnesota, management efforts become more diffuse and are less likely to have large-scale impacts.
There are still reasons to have some optimism about the future of EAB in Minnesota. Although the last year has had a lot
of bad news with new infestations being found, the good news is that many of these infestations were discovered in the
early stages of infestation. This provides an opportunity for property owners to preserve trees if they choose as well as
avoid moving infested wood to other areas; moreover, the MDA has worked extensively to release the parasitic wasps that
attack and kill EAB in several known infested areas of Minnesota. We are finding low levels of parasitized EAB eggs
and larvae in some areas and anticipate that parasitism rates will increase. Although the ultimate effect of these wasps
on EAB populations is not yet known, we are working with partners at the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Forest
Service (USFS) to evaluate this impact. Biological control could play a role in significantly slowing the growth and spread
of EAB in Minnesota. Finally, much of northern Minnesota has a colder climate than anywhere EAB is currently known
to occur at tree-killing levels. Studies on the cold tolerance of EAB indicate that populations may not be able to reach
tree-killing levels in a climate as cold as northern Minnesota. While this is still speculative, it is a hopeful thought that the
area of Minnesota with the greatest density of ash trees may have a climate that provides some natural resilience to EAB.
For More Information
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: Resource Assessment Unit, Forestry Division. 2010.
Retrieved from www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/eab/victim.html
Percentage of EAB-infested Counties by year.
3
Current and Future Work
During 2015, the MDA worked on four projects specific to EAB including Implementation of “EAB Statewide
Survey,” “Improving EAB Detection Efficacy for Control,” “Technical Assistance to Promote the Suppression of EAB
in Urban Landscapes within Minnesota Communities,” and “Biosurveillance and Biocontrol of EAB – Phase 2.”
Project: EAB Statewide Survey
This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine (APHIS PPQ) and primarily focuses on purple trap survey for EAB.
Funds remaining after trapping is completed for the season are used to support winter visual survey for EAB.
Winter Visual Survey
During 2015, we conducted visual survey intermittently during January through April in areas considered highrisk for EAB infestation bordering known infested areas. A risk map developed by the USFS was used to identify
specific areas for survey which were typically along travel corridors and developed areas. Random points were
generated along roads (excluding interstates and highways) in these areas and then visited by staff. At each point,
staff on foot inspected ash trees visible along 100m of roadway for symptoms of EAB such as woodpecker feeding
and loose, splitting bark using binoculars as needed. Trees exhibiting these symptoms were inspected again at a
later date using a ladder or other means to look for more definitive signs of EAB such as larval feeding galleries.
A total of 289 points were visited in the Duluth area with help from the 1854 Treaty Authority staff.
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A total of 289 points were visited in the Duluth area with help from the 1854 Treaty Authority staff. Sixteen trees
were marked as suspect and reevaluated at a later date. No EAB-infested trees were found during the survey.
A total of 210 points were visited in the Twin Cities area. One new area of EAB infestation was discovered near
Lebanon Hills Regional Park RV Campground in Dakota County. This was the first documented occurrence
of EAB in Dakota County and the quarantine was expanded as a result. An additional seven trees were marked
as suspect by the survey and reevaluated at a later date; no additional EAB infestations were discovered.
Visual survey was also conducted in southeast Minnesota although the sampling procedure was
different. Staff searched areas at high risk for EAB in a similar manner although the areas for
survey were not randomly selected. An EAB infestation in the City of Rushford was discovered
through this work and the EAB quarantine was expanded to Fillmore County as a result.
Purple Trap Survey
As in past years, the MDA worked under an award from the USDA APHIS PPQ to implement the EAB
trap survey during 2015. Four survey staff set a total of 1196 EAB purple prism traps in 63 counties. Traps
were placed within pre-determined map grids provided by the USDA which were based on an EAB risk
A total of 210 points were visited in the Twin Cities area.
5
Four survey staff set a total of 1,196 EAB purple prism traps in 63 counties.
6
model developed to optimize trap placement. Additional traps were placed within urban population centers
where the risk of movement of infested articles, especially firewood, is considered to be greatest.
Traps were placed in ash trees in late May through early June and removed in September and
October. Traps were removed beginning in southern Minnesota and moving in a northerly direction
once the growing degree days (GDD) were at or above 1500. The peak activity for EAB adults is
estimated at 1000 GDD (USDA APHIS PPQ, 2015 Emerald Ash Borer Survey Guidelines).
The majority of traps were placed in non-quarantined counties with the exception of Dakota County. Trap placement
was determined prior to the first find in Dakota County, as part of a visual survey of EAB, in late December 2014.
Seven EAB were trapped in six traps in four counties during the 2015 season. It was the first time EAB infestations
were discovered in Chisago and Washington counties and both counties were added to the area regulated for EAB.
EAB Survey in 2016
The current project will end in April 2016. To complete the project, the MDA and the USDA APHIS PPQ will be
conducting winter visual survey in and around the Twin Cities metro area. The MDA and the 1854 Treaty Authority
will be conducting the same in the Duluth area. These surveys will be conducted during January through March and
if any new EAB infestations are discovered they will be visible on our online map: www.mda.state.mn.us/eab
In 2016, the purple trap survey will be conducted through private contractors working for the USDA
rather than by the MDA as in past years. Despite this shift, a similar level of trapping is expected
for Minnesota; however, MDA visual surveys in 2017 may be affected by this change.
For More Information
• USDA APHIS PPQ: 2015 Emerald Ash Borer Survey Guidelines. Retrieved from:
www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/emerald_ash_b/downloads/survey_guidelines.pdf
Project: Improving EAB Detection Efficacy for Control
This three-year project is funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. It began July
1, 2013, and ends June 30, 2016. The U of M and the USFS are project partners. Additional cooperators
on the project include the USDA APHIS, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR), the
cities of Duluth, Roseville, Shoreview, St. Paul, and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board.
The goal of this project has been to compare the efficacy of different methods for EAB survey and to evaluate their
ability to inform local management. These survey methods have been implemented at eight different study sites with
a range of EAB population densities.
At each site the same yearly sampling
calendar has been followed:
County
City
Date of Find
# Adults Found
• In May through September, purple
prism traps are placed in the sites
at a target density of one trap/
hectare and monitored for EAB
adults. During 2015, 159 prism
traps were deployed at these sites.
• In August, all observable
ash trees are evaluated
for canopy condition as
Anoka
Ham Lake
7/28/2015
1
Chisago
Scandia
8/4/2015
2
Dakota
Eagan
8/5/2015
1
Dakota
West St. Paul
8/24/2015
1
Anoka
Ham Lake
9/14/2015
1
Washington
Stillwater
10/6/2015
1
TOTAL
7
2015 EAB Adults trapped.
7
well as any visible signs of EAB. These observations have been made by a single individual.
This observation is meant to be a general measure of tree health at the study site.
• During fall through spring when no leaves are present, 35 trees at each study site are visually evaluated
for symptoms of EAB such as woodpecker foraging or loose, splitting bark. This observation is made
independently by three individuals. To score a tree as EAB positive, two of the three individuals must
have observed EAB symptoms. Note that this procedure was specific to this study and specific signs of
EAB such as larval feeding galleries are normally required to consider a tree to be EAB positive.
• During fall through spring, two branches are removed from each of the 35 trees and the
bark removed to search for EAB larval feeding tunnels. In addition, two entire trees
are felled and sampled in order to gauge the EAB density in standing trees.
Results from the first two years of the study have indicated that all three survey techniques have utility for
detecting the presence of EAB at study sites with low levels of EAB before significant tree damage has occurred.
This indicates that management for cities or other entities in this situation may be aided by incorporating
monitoring for EAB. For study sites with higher EAB densities, the survey was also effective at detecting
EAB, but did not provide information useful for management since the majority of the trees were already in
Study sites for project on improving EAB detection efficacy.
8
significant decline from EAB. Preliminary conclusions indicated that branch sampling was a more sensitive
survey tool than visual observation but that the labor costs were approximately four times greater. The degree of
sensitivity gained in branch sampling may not have been great enough to justify the increase in labor costs.
One notable occurrence during 2015 was the discovery of EAB on Park Point in the City of Duluth. A
study site was created for the project at Park Point Recreation Area after EAB was discovered in Superior,
Wisconsin, in August 2013. The MDA and the City of Duluth sampled at Park Point in 2013 and 2014 without
finding any EAB, but four infested trees were discovered while branch sampling during 2015. The trees
were lightly infested and did not display any visual symptoms of EAB. The oldest tunneling that could be
found on any of the trees was likely from 2014. No EAB was detected on purple traps at this site.
This project will be completed in 2016. We will continue with branch sampling work and complete
visual survey of study trees for the 2015/2016 winter. Data will be compiled and sent to the U
of M cooperators for data analysis. Final results will be available sometime in 2017.
Project: Technical Assistance to Promote the Suppression of EAB
in Urban Landscapes within Minnesota Communities
This project is funded by the USFS with the goal of slowing the increase of EAB populations in urban
areas by providing technical assistance to communities to aid EAB management strategies. Aggressive
management by municipalities and other local entities has likely played a role in the slower-thanexpected increase of EAB in the Twin Cities metro area described in the EAB Status Update.
The MDA’s focus for this work has been on providing information through trainings, public meetings, and field surveys.
As new infestations were found this year, workshops were held in those areas to provide training on identifying
EAB-infested trees and often field surveys were done in conjunction to delimit the infested area. In 2015, the MDA
and municipality staff surveyed over 150 miles of roadway for EAB-infested trees. Field workshops were primarily
held at Lebanon Hills Campground in Dakota County and Fort Snelling State Park. Field surveys were completed
at Lebanon Hills Regional Park, Eagan in Dakota County, Ham Lake in Anoka County, Rochester in Olmsted
County and rural Washington County near the St. Croix Rest Area where EAB was discovered in October 2015.
Additional field workshops are planned for Winter and Spring 2016, although specific sites or dates have not been selected
at this time. To find out more about the status of these workshops, contact the MDA at [email protected].
Woodpecker feeding.
Vertical splits in the bark.
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Two regional meetings were held during December 2015 to discuss the current
status of EAB and local management efforts in southeastern Minnesota
(meeting in Rochester) and in the Twin Cities Metro (meeting in Shoreview).
About 110 staff from local units of government attended these meetings. Part
of the discussion was regarding the MDA’s efforts to find ways to transfer new
information regarding EAB monitoring and management to stakeholders.
As this project comes to an end in 2016, the MDA is creating a suite of resources
for current and future EAB managers. Some of the materials being developed
include training videos of visual scouting techniques and branch sampling, tools to
report and confirm infestations, and more. One of the first materials is a webinar,
“Manage EAB, or Manage the Forest?”, that was given by Mark Abrahamson
of the MDA, and recorded by EAB University which is funded by the USDA
Forest Service. www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYQfV6GFBsk&feature=youtu.be
Park Point EAB tunneling.
Project: Biosurveillance and Biocontrol of EAB – Phase 2
This three-year project is funded by the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Project partners include
the U of M, U of M Extension and USFS. Cooperators include the USDA APHIS PPQ, MN DNR, City of St.
Paul and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. This project has three components (Biological Control
Implementation, Tracking the Infestation Core and Biosurveillance) for which status updates are provided below.
EAB Biological Control Implementation (Release & Recovery)
Biological control was initiated in 2010 with the goal of using natural enemies to suppress EAB populations and slow
rates of tree morality. Two species of parasitoid wasps are currently being used in an attempt to achieve these goals:
• Tetrastichus planipennisi, attacks late instar larvae underneath the bark.
• Oobius agrili, attacks EAB eggs in the bark crevices of ash trees.
The MDA receives weekly shipments of the parasitoid wasps from the USDA EAB Parasitoid Rearing Facility
in Brighton, Michigan, from May through September. The shipment of parasitoid wasps come in devices called
oobinators (O. agrili) and ash bolts (T. planipennisi). Each device contains a set number of wasps in their immature
stage. Devices are then placed securely on ash trees in the field and left for at least 30 days to ensure complete
development and emergence of the wasps. During 2015, the MDA released 182,512 parasitoid wasps (151,022 T.
planipennisi, 31,490 O. agrili) at 11 sites located in the Twin Cities and southeast Minnesota. Of the 11 current sites,
seven were in the Twin Cities and four in southeast Minnesota. This year, 2015, marked a significant increase in
release numbers from past years, with releases totaling over 5,000 more than the previous four years combined.
Event
Type of Participants
Attendance
Winter EAB Workshops (8)
Municipalities
138
Spring EAB Workshops (15)
Industry, Municipalities and General Public
182
Public Meetings/Presentations (25)
General Public and Master Volunteers
Approx. 500
EAB Forum Meetings (5)
Municipalities and Natural Resource Managers
172
SE Regional Meeting (1)
Municipalities and Natural Resource Managers
34
Metro Regional Meeting (1)
Municipalities and Natural Resource Managers
77
EAB events held in 2015.
10
Parasitoid wasp recovery work was carried out in the winter, spring and fall at older release sites. A total
of 73 bark samples were collected and analyzed from 10 sites resulting in the recovery of O. agrili from
locations at Great River Bluffs and Ft. Snelling State Parks. A tutorial on bark sampling for O. agrili can
be found at the MDA website: www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/eabbiocontrol.aspx.
Recoveries of T. planipennisi continue to be made through branch sampling efforts at Great River Bluffs State Park
where releases ended in 2013. Branch sampling efforts in the fall of 2015 recorded 29 recoveries of T. planipennisi,
an increase of 24 from the previous year. These finds are significant because it provides evidence that the parasitoid
wasps are attacking EAB, reproducing, increasing in numbers, and able to overwinter successfully in Minnesota.
In 2016, the MDA will continue work to establish parasitoid wasp populations in newly discovered areas with EAB
infestations. New site selection will continue to focus on forested corridors where other management options are less
practical. Releases will continue to be made at sites initiated in 2015 and new release sites will also be selected.
The MDA will also apply to the USDA APHIS PPQ for a permit to receive and release a new larval
parasitoid wasp, Spathius galinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), that has been approved by the USDA
for release in the U.S. This larval parasitoid was discovered in the Russian Far East, is very host
specific, and seems to closely match the climate of the Upper Midwest (Duan et al., 2015).
The MDA will receive yellow pan traps from the USDA APHIS PPQ for use at three established release sites
to monitor for parasitoid wasp establishment and dispersal during summer 2016. Insects found in yellow pan
traps will be collected weekly and stored at the MDA to then be sorted during the fall and winter months.
Specimens will be sent to national EAB biological control researchers for official identification. All existing
sites will continue to be monitored for ash health, EAB activity, and establishment of parasitoid wasps.
For More Information
• http://gis.mda.state.mn.us/eab/
• Duan, J. J., Gould, J. R., & Fuester, R. W. (2015). Evaluation of the host specificity of
Spathius galinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a larval parasitoid of the emerald ash borer
(Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Northeast Asia. Biological Control, 89, 91-97.
Tracking the EAB Infestation Core Study
To track dispersal of EAB and the parasitic wasp biological control agents, the MDA, along with project partners,
initiated long-term monitoring of ash health, EAB, and EAB biological control agents in the Twin Cities in 2011.
Tetrastichus planipennisi
Oobius agrili
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Three hundred ash trees were selected as study trees in the summer of 2011 in the original EAB infestation area of
St. Paul and the surrounding area up to 4km from the initial EAB infestation. Each year the MDA collects data on
tree size and health as well as using branch sampling to subsample the selected study trees for EAB each year.
Branch sampling entails removing two branches about 4in in diameter from each tree, removing the bark from the basal
3ft of the branch and collecting detailed information on the presence of EAB and associated biological control agents.
Infested trees identified during the sampling process are reported to city cooperators for further management action.
During 2015, MDA staff worked with project partners to collect and peel branch samples from 149 study trees.
A total of 21 trees were identified as being infested with EAB. Cooperators were notified of the locations and
infested trees were removed before EAB flight season in the spring. New study trees were selected during summer
2015 in order to maintain the monitoring network within the study area. Fifty-eight new trees were selected at
locations where previous study trees were removed for reasons other than EAB. At the beginning of the study, it
was thought that ash mortality within the study area would be much more significant than it has been to date. Ash
health has remained relatively steady, with the vast majority of trees displaying relatively little canopy decline.
Annual ash health data was collected on all new and remaining study trees. A random point ash inventory
was developed for the study area and data was collected during July and August of 2015. Data is being
analyzed to estimate the total public ash resource within the study area which can then be used in conjunction
with infestation results from branch sampling to determine total number of infested trees within the
study area. Data will then be compared to actual management outcomes for the impacted area.
In 2016, the MDA will continue to collect and process branch samples from the remaining study
trees to track the spread of EAB and look for associated biological control agents. Infested
trees identified while sampling will be reported to cooperators for further management action.
Annual ash health data will be collected one final time during the summer of 2016.
For More Information
• www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/eabbiocontrol/trackeab.aspx
(interactive map of study area with sampling results)
• www.urban-forestry.com/assets/documents/28sep_1000am_ryall.pdf (Canadian Forest Service
presentation on branch sampling method for early detection of EAB in urban areas)
• Ryall, K. L., Fidgen, J. G., & Turgeon, J. J. (2011). Detectability of the emerald ash borer (Coleoptera:
Buprestidae) in asymptomatic urban trees by using branch samples. Environmental Entomology, 40(3), 679-688.
Bioagent
2010
Release
#’s
2011
Release
#’s
2012
Release
#’s
2013
Release
#’s
2014
Release
#’s
2015
Release
#’s
All Years
Combined
Tetrastichus
planipennisi
2,154
19,480
19,822
42,579
34,434
151,022
266,611
Oobius agrili
0
3,641
10,241
8,597
12,062
31,490
66,031
Spathius agrili
1,172
7,596
15,258
0
0
0
24,026
TOTALS
3,326
30,717
45,321
51,176
46,496
182,512
359,548
Bioagent release totals by year.
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Biosurveillance of EAB
The smoky winged beetle bandit, Cerceris fumipennis, is a native wasp that preys solely on metallic wood-boring
beetles such as EAB. These wasps are solitary, ground-nesting insects, and do not live in colonies with other wasps.
Burrows are typically made in open, hard-packed sandy soil. These wasps do not sting people, but they do sting
beetles they capture to paralyze them. These captured beetles are placed in the wasp’s burrow for the offspring to feed.
Monitoring nests of C. fumipennis is one way to survey for the metallic wood-boring beetle species present in an area.
U of M Extension is coordinating a network of citizen scientist volunteers that are searching for and
monitoring nests of C. fumipennis for this reason. Goals of the project are to identify new areas of EAB
infestation as well as to monitor for other invasive wood-borer species. This is a cooperative project
led by U of M Extension with the MDA acting in a supporting role for data management.
During 2015, the MDA maintained an online map updated weekly from June through
September displaying the latest site visit results, added new site locations added throughout
summer from list provided by U of M Extension, and shared data with partners.
For More Information
• www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/eab/waspwatchers/
Regulatory Efforts
During 2015, five new counties and a portion of one county were
quarantined due to the detection of EAB. These areas included:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anoka County (emergency quarantine on April 8)
Fillmore County (emergency quarantine on May 6)
Chisago County (emergency quarantine on August 11)
Scott County (emergency quarantine on August 11)
Washington County (emergency quarantine on October 8)
Park Point within the City of Duluth, St Louis County
(emergency quarantine on November 15)
Anoka, Fillmore, Chisago and Scott Counties were included in the
formal state quarantine for EAB on November 15 after public meetings
and comment periods for each county. Washington County and Park
Point were expected to become part of the formal state quarantine in
mid-January, 2016 after similar meetings and comment periods.
Branch sampling.
For EAB, the emergency and formal quarantines have contained the same
restrictions on wood movement. The difference is that an emergency quarantine
is meant to be a short-term measure which can quickly be implemented in
the event of a plant health emergency. An emergency quarantine is expected
to either be rescinded after a threat has been mitigated or transitioned
into a formal quarantine after an opportunity for public comment.
Businesses and individuals with a need to treat regulated material
so that it can be moved out of a quarantine area are required to do
so under a compliance agreement. The MDA participated in 43
EAB tunnel under bark.
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compliance agreements during 2015 of which 25 were for movement of material within Minnesota only
and 18 were joint agreements with the USDA for movement out of as well as within Minnesota.
For More Information
• www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/regulatoryinfo.aspx
Outreach
In 2015, the outreach team initiated and participated in a variety of events with an emphasis on EAB. Our presence at
trade shows, conferences, and community events provided unique and valuable opportunities to interact with different
audiences in-person. We attended 18 events, most of which focused on forest pests and pathogens. Three of the most
trafficked events attended include the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show, whose audience included landowners,
families, gardeners, and outdoors enthusiasts; the Minneapolis/St. Paul RV and Camping Show, whose audience
included outdoors enthusiasts, families, and firewood users; and a Minnesota Twins Plaza Day, whose audience
included homeowners. Information and materials related to EAB were displayed and distributed to event visitors.
Materials produced for events included updated flyers, wallet-sized identification
cards, display boxes, brochures, fact sheets, and informative banners.
In addition, web pages focused on EAB, and related surveys were added and updated as part of a larger, ongoing
web development project aimed at improving user experience. Learn more here: www.mda.state.mn.us/invasives
In 2016, the outreach team will continue to work to slow the spread and impact of EAB through
educating the public and partners. There are three primary ways people can help with this work:
1. Follow quarantine restrictions – ash material and hardwood firewood must stay in
quarantined areas unless a compliance agreement is in effect with the MDA.
2. Follow best practices when working in known EAB-infested areas to help slow the spread of EAB.
For more details, please visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/eab/bmpsinfested.
aspx. A map of known infested areas is maintained at http://gis.mda.state.mn.us/eab.
3. Report suspected EAB infestations using Arrest the Pest, found at www.mda.state.mn.us/arrestthepest.
For more details on outreach events and activities, or to request materials, please
contact us (contact information available at end of report).
For More Information
• www.mda.state.mn.us/eab
• www.mda.state.mn.us/invasives
• www.mda.state.mn.us/arrestthepest
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How to Help
• Keep track of invasive species threatening Minnesota: www.mda.state.mn.us/invasives
• Report invasive species to the MDA: www.mda.state.mn.us/arrestthepest
• Keep tabs on regulations to prevent the spread of forest invasives: www.mda.state.mn.us/pestregs
For more information, contact:
Mark Abrahamson,
Pest Detection and Management Unit Supervisor
[email protected]
651-201-6505
Kimberly Thielen Cremers
Pest Mitigation and Regulatory Response Unit Supervisor
[email protected]
651-201-6329
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this information is available in alternative forms of communication upon request by calling
651-201-6000. TTY users can call the Minnesota Relay Service at 711. The MDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
File Name: Stakeholder Report 02_EAB Accessibility.indd Date: Feb 4, 2016
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