Emerald ash borer spreads to five more Texas counties

The Texas A&M Forest Service has confirmed the presence of the invasive emerald ash borer in five additional Texas counties: Delta, Erath, Hardin, Walker, and Wood. This brings the total number of new counties affected in Texas to eight this year.

The emerald ash borer is a wood-boring beetle responsible for the death of hundreds of millions of ash trees across North America. The larvae feed beneath the bark, creating S-shaped galleries that disrupt a tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Infested trees may show symptoms such as canopy thinning, bark splitting, and distinctive D-shaped exit holes left by adult beetles.

Demian Gomez, a regional forest health coordinator for the Texas A&M Forest Service, noted that Hardin County represents the current southernmost boundary for the insect in the United States, indicating the pest follows the southern extent of ash tree habitats. While the insect can spread naturally, officials warn that the movement of infested firewood, logs, and other ash wood products by humans can accelerate its expansion. Residents are encouraged to purchase firewood locally to mitigate the spread.