Emerald Ash Borer Spreads in SD, But slowly

Just in time for summer, authorities  have announced that the invasive  emerald ash borer (EAB) has now  burrowed its way into three South  Dakota counties.

The South Dakota Department of  Agriculture and Natural Resources  (DANR) discovered an EAB infestation  earlier this year in Dakota Dunes, SD.  The insect has now been confi rmed  in Union, Lincoln, and Minnehaha  counties since it was fi rst discovered  in the state in 2018.

And while there’s no way of eradicating  EAB’s presence from the state entirely,  the DANR says having three infected  counties in fi ve years is consistent  with movement in other states taking  a similar approach to combat the ashtree-killing insect.

That approach is a multi-county  quarantine and public awareness  efforts designed to help slow the  spread.

“EAB will eventually spread across the  state,” said Brian Walsh, Public Affairs  Director for DANR. “Quarantines and  public awareness efforts help slow the  spread by minimizing the movement  of potentially infested wood, giving  landowners and communities more  time to develop EAB response plans.”

EAB is an invasive boring beetle  that feeds on all species of North  American ash. The insect has killed tens of millions of ash trees in at least  35 states.

South Dakota has a lot of ash trees,  so an unchecked spread could be  devastating for communities.

According to Walsh, ash trees can be  found throughout the state in most  windbreaks and along many rivers  and streams. They are especially  prevalent in East River communities,  where they account for about one  third of all trees.

“Once a tree is infected it quickly  becomes unstable, creating a public  safety hazard,” he said. “Waiting to  manage your ash trees until after they  are impacted can lead to increased  liability and signifi cant removal cost.  Working to slow the spread helps  landowners and communities plan for  an infestation and act earlier to begin  removing ash trees and planting  replacement trees.”

Even though the spread is slow,  individuals and communities should  remain diligent, especially in the  upcoming summer months when the  beetles emerge from the wood to  seek out new locations.

Visit emeraldashborerinsouthdakota. sd.gov for information on workshops,  quarantines, news and current  events, community and landowner  guidance, along with helpful links  and information about how to report  a potential sighting. ■ iStock.com/alan64

The EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) is a boring beetle that  feeds on North American ash.  Adults are about 1/2 inch  long, slender, and a metallic  green color. They normally  emerge from ash trees during  June or July and leave behind  D-shaped exit holes about 1/8  inch in size. EAB larva feeds  on the tissues underneath the  bark, creating tunnels (see  cover photo) which inhibit the  tree's ability to transport water  and nutrients leading to the  death of the tree.

Help slow the spread of EAB

DON’T MOVE FIREWOOD

Burn it where you buy it. Make sure  local or treated wood is available for  purchase in your town.

Develop A Response Plan

For cities within the quarantine, begin  or continue to treat or remove ash  trees as needed. For those outside  of the quarantine area, gradually  remove ash trees pre-emptively and  replace them with other species.

PLANT A VARIETY OF TREES.

Cities should use multiple different  species to make their community  trees resistant to more than one  insect or disease.

Learn How To Recognize An Eab Infestation

Visit emeraldashborerinsouthdakota. sd.gov for information on workshops,  quarantines, news and current  events, community and landowner  guidance, along with helpful links and  information about how to report a  potential sighting.

Educate Your Citizens

Promote public awareness of EAB,  teach citizens how to recognize an  infestation, and share your response  plan and efforts with the public.

Follow The Quarantine Requirements

The EAB quarantine area currently  includes Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner,  and Union counties. The quarantine  is in effect year-round and prohibits  the movement of any ash materials  or fi rewood from hardwood species  out of the quarantine. In addition,  South Dakota has a statewide  embargo in place prohibiting the  movement of regulated items (ARSD  12:51:10:03) from entering the state  unless certain conditions are met.