ST PAUL, Minn — A new invasive insect has been discovered in Minnesota, according to state officials.
On Tuesday morning, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials announced an elm zigzag sawfly was found on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus.
The funny-sounding bug can cause some serious damage.
Officials said when the elm zigzag sawfly is a young larvae they exclusively feed on the leaves of elm trees. They get their name by chewing through the leaves creating a distinctive zigzag pattern.
ZigZag sawfly larvae are green with a black band on their head. They can also be identified by having "T-shaped brown or black markings on the top of their second and third pair of legs."
The insect was first reported on iNaturalist, a free app where nature enthusiasts upload pictures of unknown species and other users can identify them.
MDA officials said "an out-of-state college student working on the insect" identified the elm zigzag sawfly on the iNaturalist app.
The elm zigzag sawfly is native to East Asia, including Japan, eastern China, the Korean peninsula and eastern Russia, according to North Carolina State.
Its first confirmed sighting in North America was in 2020 in Québec, Canada.
The invasive and destructive insect has since been confirmed in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Vermont, Massachusetts — and now, Minnesota.
The new insect is not welcome news to a native elm population that has been in the thick of a long battle with Dutch elm disease.
Officials said the potential impact of the elm zigzag sawfly is unknown because of the short time it has been in the U.S. (since 2021). "Although the insect causes defoliation of elm trees, most defoliated trees can recover from a defoliation event," according to Tuesday's news release.
MDA officials said residents should report suspected sightings of the elm zigzag sawfly to the MDA's Report a Pest line or call 1-888-545-6684. Please include photos when submitting.
