By Scout Nelson
Emerald Ash Borer Awareness Week has been officially proclaimed by Governor Doug Burgum to run from May 20-27, 2024, in North Dakota. This initiative highlights the severe threat posed by the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect from Asia. This pest is notorious for killing ash trees by disrupting their ability to transport water and nutrients.
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has already devastated hundreds of millions of ash trees across 36 states and five Canadian provinces. North Dakota’s neighbor, Minnesota, as well as South Dakota and Manitoba, have confirmed EAB presence.
"The nearest find is right across the border in Moorhead, MN," noted Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to keep EAB at bay in North Dakota.
The state is home to over 90 million ash trees, which comprise a significant portion of urban and rural vegetation. To prevent the spread of EAB, State Forester Tom Claeys advised, “Please buy your firewood from local sources, and if you are coming from out of the state, please don’t bring firewood with you.”
Efforts to monitor and control the spread of EAB are in full swing.
The North Dakota Department of Agriculture, North Dakota Forest Service, and NDSU Extension are setting up nearly 250 purple, three-sided traps across high-risk areas.
These traps are baited with lures to attract and capture the beetles. Monitoring these traps helps in detecting the presence of EAB early, which is crucial for managing its spread.
The cooperation of the public is essential. Goehring and Claeys request that anyone encountering these traps leave them undisturbed to aid in the fight against this destructive pest.
Photo Credit -adobe-stock-moneycue-canada
Categories: North Dakota, General