Emerald ash borer spreads to Winona County

Emerald ash borer
The emerald ash borer is responsible for millions of dollars of damage to ash trees in Michigan, and it's spreading to other states. The adult borer is a metallic, coppery-green color and one-third to one-half inch long.
David Cappaert, Michigan State University

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture confirms the emerald ash borer has now been found in Winona County.

The department also detected the insect at another location in Houston County, in southeastern Minnesota.

The Winona County infestation is in the Great River Bluffs State Park near Dakota. The Houston County detection is in Veterans Park in La Crescent.

The two new sites are eight miles apart. It's the second detection in Houston County.

It's latest in a series of emerald ash borer infestations discovered in Minnesota since 2009.

KAGE Radio reports the MDA has imposed on quarantine on Winona County, barring people from moving out of the county any items potentially infested with the emerald ash borer. That includes firewood, live ash trees and untreated ash lumber.

--- Information from: KAGE-AM, http://www.winonaradio.com

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