Emerald Ash Borer, a destructive and invasive beetle from that preys exclusively on ash trees, has been confirmed in 24 Texas counties, including Red River, Franklin and Hopkins counties.
The beetle, from northeast Asia, has killed millions of ash trees since its introduction to the United States in the early 2000s. The pest was first confirmed in Texas in Harrison County in 2016.
They are roughly 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide and metallic emerald-green with a cylndrical body.
Females can lay up to 100 eggs. Emerald ash borer causes severe environmental damage, including destroying habitat by changing forest and riparian zone diversity, increases fire risk from dead trees, and results in high economic costs related to insecticide treatments and the removal/replacement of dead trees.
Taking proactive measures in education and prevention can help slow the spread of EAB. Strategically planting diverse Texas adapted trees will make it harder for EAB to establish itself in surrounding ash trees.
Burning firewood where you buy it is crucial to slowing the spread of EAB, since they can survive up to two years after a tree is cut down. Other invasive pests can also hitch a ride on firewood and infect new areas when it is transported.
REPORT A SIGHTING: Please report any new sightings of dead or dying ash trees or the beetles themselves, and if possible, take a picture of the ash tree or borer and record its GPS location. Click here to
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