Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) in Saint Paul
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is a destructive insect pest that attacks and kills all species of ash trees (Fraxinus genus) native to North America. EAB is native to Asia and has no natural enemies in North America. The adults are small, iridescent green beetles that live outside of trees during the summer months. The larvae are grub or worm-like and live underneath the bark of ash trees. Trees are killed by the tunneling of the larvae under the tree's bark.
The first infestation of EAB in Minnesota was discovered in Saint Paul in 2009, though it is believed that it arrived as early as 2004. While EAB spread starts slowly—usually undetected in the upper canopy of ash trees—it reproduces exponentially and advances quickly to kill all of a community’s ash trees, usually within 10-15 years of arrival. Now over 20 years in, EAB in Saint Paul remains at a critical stage. While all untreated public ash trees have been removed, there are still many thousands of ash trees on private property that pose a risk to residents and properties.
