Texas A&M Forest Service detects emerald ash borer in three additional counties
Tracking spread helps landowners implement management strategies, limit transport and movement
Texas A&M Forest Service has confirmed emerald ash borer, EAB, in Young, Montague and Clay counties after adult beetles were captured in agency monitoring traps. The detections expand the known range of the invasive insect in Texas and highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring efforts.
Emerald ash borer is an invasive wood-boring beetle responsible for the death of hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. The insect was first detected in Texas in 2016 and continues to spread through portions of the state.
Monitoring and trapping
Texas A&M Forest Service uses a network of purple traps across Texas to detect emerald ash borer and track its movement into new areas. Information collected through the program helps foresters, landowners and communities better understand where the insect is present and informs future management and outreach efforts.
“Monitoring is one of our most important tools for tracking the spread of emerald ash borer in Texas,” said Allen Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service forest health program manager. “These detections help us better understand where the insect is present so landowners and municipalities can implement management strategies as it continues to move across the state.”
Management of emerald ash borer spread
Adult emerald ash borer are metallic green beetles approximately one-half inch long. Infested trees may show signs of canopy thinning, increased woodpecker activity, bark splitting and D-shaped exit holes left by emerging adults. As larvae bore under the bark, they also leave a typical zig zag or S-shaped gallery.
Although emerald ash borer primarily spreads through natural movement, people can unknowingly transport the insect by moving infested firewood, logs and other ash wood products. Texas A&M Forest Service encourages Texans to buy and burn firewood locally and avoid moving untreated or unseasoned wood.
Available resources
Texas A&M Forest Service has resources available to help affected communities identify signs of emerald ash borer infestation, as well as make decisions about preventative measures they can take and how to handle tree management and removal.
The agency will work with communities on state quarantines of the movement of wood into and out of the area. These quarantines are standard protocols with such infestations and in Texas are set by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
For more information on EAB in Texas, visit the emarld ash borer site at tfsweb.tamu.edu/EAB/. More information is also available from the Texas Department of Agriculture on the EAB quarantine areas.
To report emerald ash borer, call the EAB Hotline at 1-866-322-4512.
