Southern Texas Faces New Threat
Texas forest health experts have confirmed the presence of the destructive emerald ash borer (EAB) in five additional counties—Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Bell, and Rockwall—bringing the statewide total to 31. The confirmation in Bell County marks a milestone: the southernmost detection of EAB in the United States.
First identified in Texas in 2016, this metallic green beetle—about half an inch long—has carved a deadly path across North America since 2002. Native to Asia, EAB targets all ash tree species, boring through trunks and branches and interrupting nutrient flow. Once introduced, tree death typically occurs within six years.
Allen Smith with the Texas A&M Forest Service calls EAB “one of the worst invasive insects to impact North American forests.” Though the beetle doesn’t fly far naturally, its spread is accelerated by human activity, especially the movement of infected firewood and ash products.
To track its migration, the Forest Service deploys more than 550 traps across the state starting in February, timed to weather and temperature conditions that prompt beetle emergence.
With a county’s confirmation, regulatory responsibility shifts to the Texas Department of Agriculture. Their quarantine restricts movement of ash wood, mulch, nursery stock, and firewood from affected areas. Facilities handling wood products—from sawmills to mulch producers—fall under added scrutiny.
Texans are urged to buy and burn firewood locally and diversify tree plantings using the 10-20-30 rule: no more than 10% of one species, 20% of one genus, or 30% of one family.
Signs of EAB infestation include:
- Dead upper branches
- Shoots from the trunk
- Bark splits revealing S-shaped larval tunnels
- Increased woodpecker activity
- D-shaped exit holes
These beetles are most active near ash trees from May to June.
To report a suspected emerald ash borer, call the EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512. For more details, visit the Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Department of Agriculture websites.
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