The invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) beetle that has killed tens of millions of ash trees across the U.S. has been detected in Texas. State and federal agencies are preparing people and communities with information, education and preventative measures to fight the pest.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS)—agencies leading the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) EAB survey in the state—trapped four adult beetles in Harrison County just south of Karnack, Texas. Although the ash trees in the immediate vicinity of the trap did not exhibit symptoms of the pest, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) laboratory confirmed the specimens were emerald ash borers. Efforts are underway to identify any infested trees.
Texas has anticipated the arrival of the EAB and has strategically placed beetle detection traps across the state for the past four years in an effort to provide an early warning if and when the invasive pest arrived.
“Early detection of this destructive pest minimizes its spread and enables us to effectively work with those affected by providing information and science-based solutions to potential attacks,” said Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Health Coordinator Shane Harrington. “TFS is working with other state and federal agencies to ensure that the general public, home- and landowners know fact from fiction and what to look for when monitoring for EAB.”
The EAB is a destructive, non‐native, wood‐boring pest of ash trees and poses a significant threat to urban, suburban and rural forests, killing both stressed and healthy ash trees. The trees typically die two or three years after becoming infested. Native to Asia, the EAB was first discovered in southeast Michigan in 2002. Since then, infestations of this invasive pest have been found in 26 states and have killed tens of millions of ash trees.
From the Texas A&M Forest Service: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/content/article.aspx?id=24246