City Of South St. Paul issued the following announcement on Dec. 12.
Did you know elongate hemlock scales are very small insects that secrete a waxy coating for defense and feed on the sap from plants. It is currently established in the Eastern United States. It has been intercepted in Minnesota on holiday greenery in 2018 and 2019 but is not established in Minnesota. If it becomes established, it could pose a threat to our native conifer species such as spruces and firs.
Main messages
1. Do your part to protect our environment when the holiday season is over.
2. Inspect your holiday greenery for elongate hemlock scale. If you find small (~2mm long) yellow-brown parallel-sided spots on the underside of needles, please take a picture and report it to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) using the Arrest the Pest Line at Arrest.the.Pest@state.mn.us
3. Do not toss trees and greenery into backyard woods or your compost pile.
4. Use a city/county organized tree and greenery pick-up or burn the greens. Always check with local ordinances first and follow them.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City Of South St. Paul
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