Emerald ash borer found in Houston County, Minn.

Officials have confirmed an emerald ash borer infestation in Houston County in the southeastern corner of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture says the destructive beetle was found in three trees in the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Area. They're about 1 mile from an infestation in Victory, Wis., that was found a year ago.

While it's the first time the pest has been confirmed in Houston County, officials had expected to find it there. The adult beetles can fly up to 2 miles each year, and the nearby Wisconsin infestation appears to have been in place for several years.

MDA Plant Protection Director Geir Friisoe says it's a reminder that emerald ash borer is a threat to Greater Minnesota and not just the Twin Cities.

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