Arden Hills, MN (KARE/CNN) - The hunt for parasites has gone to the dogs in Minnesota.
The state is using man's best friend to sniff out one bug that's threatening ash trees.
The state's Department of Agriculture began training four dogs last month to detect ash wood material and the emerald ash borer.
The little green beetles are an invasive species.
The dogs will be used to sniff out mulch piles, yard waste sites and commercial vehicles for the bugs and their larvae.
"We're trying to keep invested material from leaving the quarantine and going to a new place and part of enforcing that quarantine is monitoring sites that are receiving wood and the dogs will help in monitoring those sites to find out if ash is being brought in, if infested ash is being brought in," said entomologist Mark Abrahamson.
The four dogs should finish their training this July.
KARE/CNN