Extension > Garden > Emerald ash borer
What you need to know
Since 2002, emerald ash borer has killed tens of millions of ash trees. With the largest concentration of ash trees in the country, Minnesota has much to protect. Here is what you need to know:
- Ash trees lack a way to defend against these pests. Once an ash is attacked, it will be killed.
- Look for 1/8 inch, D-shaped exit holes in trees. These are the result of borers leaving the tree once they have become adults.
- Do not apply insecticides to ash trees out of the likely range of emerald ash borer.
- Do not transport firewood, even within Minnesota.
- Extension has close to 200 volunteers trained as emerald ash borer First Detectors. These volunteers can help homeowners determine if their ash trees have been attacked.
- If you think you have found emerald ash borer, go through the steps at Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) to be sure. Those without internet access can call Forest Resources Extension at 612-624-3020.
Emerald ash borer larvae
D-shaped exit hole
Adult emerald ash borer
Identification
- Do I have emerald ash borer? (246 K PDF) — University of Minnesota Extension
- ¿Tengo el barrenador verde esmeralda del fresno? (Spanish) (419 K PDF)
- Insects in Minnesota that may be confused with emerald ash borer — University of Minnesota Extension
- Signs and symptoms of emerald ash borer (5 MB PDF) — Michigan State University
- Recognizing insect galleries in ash trees (3 MB PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Ash tree identification (8 MB PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Ash anthracnose or emerald ash borer? — University of Minnesota Extension
Where is emerald ash borer?
- Map showing EAB infestations in Minnesota
- Map of infestations in the U.S. (950 K PDF) — United States Department of Agriculture
Management
- Ash management guidelines for private forest landowners
- Emerald ash borer cost calculator — Purdue University
- Strategies for managing emerald ash borer introductions — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Preparing for emerald ash borer (50 K PDF) — Minnesota Emerald Ash Borer Science Advisory Group
- Minnesota emerald ash borer response plan (176 K PDF) — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- The road to a thoughtful street tree master plan — University of Minnesota Extension
Tree care providers
- Tree care company register — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Find a local professional forester — University of Minnesota Extension
Insecticides
- Emerald Ash Borer Insecticides: Label Guidance for Use Limits
- Emerald ash borer: Homeowner guide to insecticide selection, use, and environmental protection (885 KB PDF) — University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Insecticide options for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer (260 K PDF) — emeraldashborer.info
- FAQs regarding potential side effects of systemic insecticides used to control emerald ash borer (307 K PDF) — University of Minnesota Extension
- Summary of Special Registration Review of EAB Insecticides — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Full article of Special Registration Review of EAB Insecticides — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Quarantine information
- Minnesota's emerald ash borer quarantine — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Quarantine map — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
General
- National emerald ash borer website — emeraldashborer.info
- Emerald ash borer fact sheet — University of Minnesota Extension
- Video: Emerald ash borer and your woodland — University of Minnesota Extension
- Ash tree waste disposal sites within Hennepin-Ramsey-Houston County — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Recommended trees for Minnesota — University of Minnesota Extension
- Emerald ash borer: the green menace (490 K PDF) — United States Department of Agriculture
- Information for homeowners — Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Big trouble for ash trees — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Collecting Minnesota ash seed — University of Minnesota Extension
- Forest Pest First Detector program — University of Minnesota Extension
- Emerald ash borer: what you need to know — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Barrenador esmeralda del fresno: Preguntas y respuestas (Spanish) (87 K PDF) — Minneota Department of Agriculture
- Tus kab tho ntoo av tshauv ntsuab: Lus nug thiab lus teb (Hmong) (86 K PDF) — Minneota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture video—Invaders: Emerald Ash Borer
Contact for more information
Jeff Hahn, Extension professor, entomology
612-624-4977, hahnx002@umn.edu
