Emerald ash borer detected in Fargo

BISMARCK, N.D. - This week, an insect larva found in the City of Fargo by city forestry staff has been confirmed to be emerald ash borer. This is the second finding in North Dakota. The first detection was in LaMoure County in August 2024.

Emerald ash borer is a wood boring insect originally from Asia which was first found in the U.S. in 2002. It has since spread to 37 states and killed hundreds of millions of ash trees. Emerald ash borer adults do not fly more than a mile or two on their own; however, they can be moved long distances through the movement of firewood, tree trimmings and ash nursery stock.

"This detection is unfortunate, but not surprising, considering the insect was detected in Moorhead in 2023," Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. "The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and our partners are prepared and will monitor the infestation. Travelers should leave firewood at home and purchase or gather from local sources, if allowed, to prevent further spread."

North Dakota has more than 90 million ash trees in native and rural forests, and ash trees make up between 20% to 80% of the trees along city streets and parks. Unless treated, infested ash trees can be killed in a few years. Treatments are not recommended until EAB is detected within 15 miles. Residents who choose to treat their ash trees are strongly urged to select a reputable tree service company with a certified applicator able to do these treatments. Most treatment options are restricted use and can only be done by a tree care professional. The City of Fargo maintains a list of contractors on their website that conducts treatments for emerald ash borer.

"The City of Fargo has aggressively diversified the urban forest with other tree species, reducing boulevard ash populations to less than 21%. The City Forestry Department has placed and monitored traps each summer and promoted awareness through outreach events, news releases and neighborhood mailings," Fargo City Forester Scott Liudahl said. "We have been preparing for the eventual arrival of emerald ash borer for many years."

NDDA will collaborate with the City of Fargo, North Dakota Forest Service, NDSU Extension and others to determine the extent of the infestation, continue to monitor ash trees and conduct outreach in the coming months.

NDDA maintains a quarantine restricting movement of regulated commodities from infested areas. The quarantine will be extended to Cass County. Regulated materials include all hardwood firewood, ash logs and branches, nursery stock and wood chips. Moving regulated materials from a quarantined to a non-quarantined area without a permit can result in civil penalties of up to $5,000.

For more information about emerald ash borer, what to look for in ash trees and possible treatments, please visit https://www.ndda.nd.gov/eab. To report suspect infestations, use the same link or leave a voicemail at 701-328-5146 or email [email protected].