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Oct 1, 2009 6:49 pm US/Central
Emerald Ash Borer Traps Come Down
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
Along Harding Street in northeast Minneapolis, the trapping season is over for the emerald ash borer. EAB is the voracious insect that is decimating ash trees in Michigan and threatens millions more in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
"They're not moving anymore, they're not moving around. It's past their prime," said Minnesota Department of Agriculture technician Jonathan Osthus.
It was just last spring when the first trees infected with emerald ash borer were discovered lining the streets near University Avenue and Highway 280 in St. Paul. Foresters quickly cut down the nearly 70 ash trees in the attempt to slow and contain the disease. Removing the diseased trees is just one part of a massive state effort to fight EAB.
Residents across the state soon noticed purple cardboard traps hanging from some 1800 ash trees statewide.
Osthus is in charge of crews monitoring some 650 EAB traps scattered across the Twin Cities. As he grabbed hold of the final trap still hanging from a tree, you could clearly see the sticky surface covered with all kinds of insects.
"We do a complete visual inspection. Anything that looks suspicious we take off [the trap] and put in a sample bag to be tested at the lab," Osthus explained.
After months of careful monitoring for the expected spread of the beetle, the data reveal a mix of news. Fortunately, the spread appears to be contained to neighborhoods not far from the original outbreak. What's not desirable is the discovery of more beetles.
"We had a total of four beetles that were found on three traps, and you know what that told us was there are some places we need to focus more attention on in St. Paul, looking for infested trees," said Mark Abrahamson.
He's the chief entomologist with the Department of Agriculture, the lead state agency in the emerald ash borer fight. While the traps are now down across most of the state, the surveillance will continue throughout winter. Crews will continue looking for ash trees that show telltale signs of infection, like woodpecker holes along the trunks and limbs.
"We'll want to do another intense trapping survey down here in the Twin Cities looking for where this infestation has maybe moved to from the original spot," said Abrahamson.
It's a well orchestrated effort to keep ahead of an emerald colored bug, which threatens the thick green canopy of the state.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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