What is the Emerald Ash Borer?
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a brilliantly colored green beetle that emerges in May. The EAB has been devastating Ash trees from Michigan to Texas and all along the East coast. The EAB is native to Asia and has no known predators in North America.
What Counties in Texas Have Been Infested by the Emerald Ash Borer?
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first spotted in Denton County in 2018. As of 2024, EAB has spread as far south as Waco. As Master Arborist Scott Geer has noted, EAB moves relatively slowly. Newly hatched beetles might only fly 200 yards to infest the next group of Ash trees.
EAB Known Infested Counties in the USA : https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-pests-diseases/eab/eab-infestation-map
How Quickly Can EAB Kill an Ash Tree?
It takes about 2 to 5 years for EAB to kill an Ash tree. Death is the result of the creation of galleries in the living layers of the tree. An EAB infestation, in effect, starves a tree.
Locate the Ash Trees on Your Property
The first thing you should do is to identify the Ash trees on your property. All species of Ash trees can be infected by EAB. The most common Ash trees in North Texas are Arizona Ash, Green Ash, and Mountain Ash.
Is My Ash Tree Infested with EAB?
Not all Ash trees in North Texas have been infested. If they are not treated, the chances that they will be are very high. We recommend that all Ash tree owners contact an ISA Certified Arborist as soon as possible to discuss options to control the spread of EAB.
Signs of EAB Infestation
- Borer “D” shaped holes in the bark, usually about eye-level
- Dieback from the tips of the branches, particularly in the top portion of the canopy
- Metallic-green beetles, ½ inch long, 1/8 inch wide
EAB Treatment and Control Options?
The best method of control in a healthy tree is the application of a systemic insecticide, such as Emamectin Benzoate or Imidacloprid. Application requires a trained Plant Health Care tech to drill holes into the bark of the Ash tree and slowly pumps the systemic insecticide into the tree’s phloem, where EAB lays its eggs. One application of a systemic insecticide lasts for two years. It must be repeated to ensure the control of infestation.
If the Ash tree is old and infested, we recommend removing the Ash tree and destroying its remains. Tree removals can be costly, so it is best to prevent infestation, with a systemic insecticide, before it occurs.
Tree Shepherds Consulting Arborist
We are recommending that all Ash trees be inspected for infestation by the Emerald Ash Borer. If you have an Ash tree on your property, please call Tree Shepherds to schedule an appointment with a consulting arborist. Our consulting arborists are certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. They are trained to diagnosis EAB infestation and design a treatment plan that is right for Ash trees in Denton County and the surrounding area.
