Early spring gives emerald ash borer head start

Minnesota's early spring means emerald ash borer beetles are emerging earlier than usual.

Ralph Sievert, director of Park Forestry for the Minneapolis Park Board, says people should take steps to help stop the spread of the tree-killing bug.

Sievert says the larvae from the beetle eat their way into trees, destroying the tree's ability to absorb nutrients. He tells Minnesota Public Radio News ( http://bit.ly/IzmOMK) one way to prevent the spread of the beetle is for people to hold off on pruning ash trees until this fall.

He says if you prune ash trees after the beetle emerges there's a better chance of the beetle moving around when you dispose of the wood.

The Minnesota Agriculture Department has banned transport of ash wood outside of Hennepin, Ramsey, Houston and Winona counties.