Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in North Mankato

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been confirmed in the City of North  Mankato. Infested trees were discovered by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and City of North Mankato staff as part of a routine tree inspection.

The Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic beetle that is metallic green, about ½ inch long and attacks  and kills ash trees. The larvae feed on the inner bark of these trees, destroying the tree’s ability to  transport water and nutrients and killing the tree altogether.

To prepare for and prevent further spread of the infestation, residents are encouraged to monitor  the health of the ash trees on their property or about town.

Check for the signs of EAB  infestation and contact the North Mankato Parks Department at 507-625-4141 if the following  signs are identified. 

• Look for S-shaped galleries under the bark and for small, D-shaped exit holes in the  crown of the tree. 
• Watch for woodpeckers around ash trees, as they feed on EAB larvae and may indicate  an infestation. 
• Check for bark cracks in ash trees. EAB larvae tunneling beneath the bark can cause the  bark to split open. 

As we approach the EAB’s most active time of year (May 1st – September 31st), residents are  also advised not to cut or trim ash trees and or transport firewood or other ash products that may  harbor larvae. 

Homeowners with ash trees on their property are encouraged to remove or treat their trees. More  information and resources can be found on the City’s website at www.northmankato.com/eab.  

The City will continue to work through our “Structured Removal Plan” of ash trees to slow the  spread of EAB by reducing host trees. Currently, a contractor is in the process of removing 80  trees from the city over the next few weeks. The Parks Department will also continue to inspect  ash trees on public and private properties, both on request and during routine inspections. 

Additional resources including EAB information, the City’s management plan, and links to the  MDA website can be found on the City’s website at www.northmankato.com/eab. 

Questions may be directed to the North Mankato Parks Department at 507-625-4141. ###