Ag department starts to trap emerald ash borer

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is preparing to hang thousands of purple traps around the state in search of emerald ash borer (EAB). Purple trap placement will begin the week of April 18, and end in September. A total of 4,500 purple traps are scheduled to be placed throughout the state of Minnesota.

The trap is a three-paneled purple prism placed in an ash tree, coated on the inside with the smell of a stressed ash tree. Once EAB is drawn to the purple trap, a sticky layer on the outside of the trap holds the beetle until MDA’s trappers can return and check for signs of the insect.

“Options for detecting EAB are few, and this is one of the only detection tools we have,” said Geir Friisoe, MDA’s Plant Protection Division Director. “It is important that the public do not disturb the traps so we can collect accurate and effective survey results.”

There will be two different types of trapping surveys conducted this year, high-risk and grid-based. The high-risk survey will be used to determine whether additional infestations may exist outside the known EAB infested areas. A few examples of high-risk sites are campgrounds, recreation areas, rest areas, nurseries, mills, firewood dealers and areas directly around the neighborhoods already infested. High-risk sites usually have a supply of nursery stock, ash logs, or firewood, providing a number of options for EAB to hitch a ride into and around Minnesota. MDA will position 1,417 traps in this area.

The grid-based survey will be used to better determine the leading edge of the infestation and identify areas for action to be taken to reduce the impact and spread of EAB. Grid-based trapping will occur in the following counties per national survey guidelines: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, McLeod, Mower, Olmsted, Pine, Rice, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha and Wright. MDA will place 3,083 traps in this area, with trap placement every two miles and near an ash tree.

If it is required of the survey, traps will be placed on private land. When possible, trappers will notify landowners of the placement of the trap. An interactive map of where the purple traps are placed in Minnesota will be available on MDA’s website at www.mda.state.mn.us/eab . Results of the survey will help MDA staff determine if any further action is needed to slow the spread of EAB.

For questions regarding the survey, contact the Arrest the Pest Hotline at arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us or 888-545-6684.

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