Emerald Ash Borer Found in North Dakota

The emerald ash borer, a destructive insect responsible for the decline of millions of ash trees across the United States, has been confirmed in North Dakota, marking the state as the 37th to report the pest. State officials announced the discovery on Thursday, revealing that adult beetles were collected from a trap in LaMoure County, with subsequent investigations uncovering additional larvae. Originating from Asia, the emerald ash borer was first identified in Michigan in 2002. The beetle lays its eggs on ash tree bark, and once the larvae hatch, they burrow into the tree, feeding on its inner tissues, which ultimately leads to the tree's death. North Dakota's Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring noted that the state had been preparing for the beetle's arrival for years through trap placements and public awareness campaigns. In response to the discovery, a quarantine has been established in LaMoure County, prohibiting the transportation of untreated firewood outside the area. Violators could face fines of up to $5,000. With over 90 million ash trees in North Dakota, the state is taking proactive measures to monitor the situation, including collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, the state Forest Service, and North Dakota State University Extension. The recent damage from a December ice storm may complicate efforts to identify infested trees, as officials work to assess the extent of the emerald ash borer's spread in the coming months. The pest was previously detected in Moorhead, Minnesota, just across the border from Fargo, North Dakota.