Emerald Ash Borer on the Move

Emerald Ash Borer Adult
Photo Credit: Randy King

You may have recently heard that a highly invasive beetle species is on the move in Texas.  The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

Emerald Ash Borer is a green, metallic beetle of only about 1/3-1/2 inch in length.  They lay their eggs on host plants ash, fringe tree, and European Olive and are known to kill these trees.  Without management, they will spread throughout Texas and kill planted and native ash.

Currently found in Bosque, Bowie, Cass, Camp, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Grayson, Harrison, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Marion, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rusk, Tarrant, Titus, and Wise Counties, they are likely in other counties as well as it takes approximately two years of infestation before they become noticeable.

Epicormic Shoots
Photo Credit: Eric Lincoln

Dieback of Canopy
Photo Credit: Daniel Herms,
The Ohio State University, Bugwood

Symptoms of EAB include die back of top third of the canopy, epicormic shoots, serpentine or S shaped galleries under the bark, increased woodpecker activity, and D shaped exit holes of the adults. Larvae are the damaging stage, girdling the tree and cutting off nutrient and water supply to the top of the canopy.  Once tree exhibit 30-40% die back, the damage is too extensive to treat and save the tree and removal is recommended.

Serpentine Galleries
Photo Credit: Troy Kimoto
Bugwood

D-Shaped Exit Hole
Photo Credit: Kenneth Law USDA
APHIS PPQ Bugwood

Tree with less than 30% die and trees without damage can be treated or preventatively treated with systemic insecticides.  There are several available to homeowners or you can use a professional - especially important for trees with thick diameters.

If EAB isn't found in your county, be on the lookout for them!  Especially if you have ash trees, fringe trees or European Olive on your property.

For more information on Emerald Ash Borer and their Management, visit our YouTube Chanel to watch an educational video.

You can also find more EAB Information at: 

• Texas A&M AgriLife Emerald Ash Borer Bulletin 
• Insecticide Options for Protecting Ash Trees from Emerald Ash Borer