Invasive Pest Spreads South: Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Five More Texas Counties
Published on August 2, 2025
Bell County now marks the southernmost EAB detection in the United States
The Texas A&M Forest Service has confirmed the presence of the emerald ash borer (EAB) in five additional counties—Jack, Navarro, Somervell, Rockwall, and Bell. This update is especially noteworthy because Bell County now represents the southernmost confirmed EAB detection in the country, signaling a troubling milestone for both native ash populations and the green industry in Texas.
🪲 What You Need to Know About EAB
The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that kills ash trees by tunneling beneath the bark, disrupting the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. Once a tree is infested, it typically dies within two to three years.
EAB was first detected in Texas in 2016. With these latest confirmations, the pest has now spread to 31 counties statewide—many of which include or border TNLA member operations.
⚠️ Why This Matters to Your Business
If you grow, transport, sell, or manage ash trees, this development could directly affect your operations.
Key impacts include:
- Stricter quarantine regulations in confirmed counties limiting the movement of ash nursery stock, firewood, and wood waste.
- Greater regulatory oversight for green industry professionals working in or near affected areas.
- Increased tree loss risk for landscapers, arborists, and urban foresters managing existing ash populations.
- Consult the TDA’s quarantine guidelines.
🔎 Watch for These Signs of Infestation
Whether you're in a confirmed county or a nearby area, it’s important to know the early symptoms:
- Dead or thinning branches in the tree canopy
- New shoots sprouting low on the trunk
- Bark splitting that reveals s-shaped galleries
- D-shaped exit holes in the bark
- Heavy woodpecker activity (a sign of larvae under the bark)
🛠️ What’s Being Done
The Texas A&M Forest Service continues to lead surveillance, education, and quarantine enforcement efforts. Confirmed counties are subject to movement restrictions on ash-related materials, and outreach efforts are ongoing.
View the USDA EAB Map for up-to-date infestation data.
📣 TNLA’s Next Steps
TNLA is actively monitoring the situation and working with local, state, and federal officials to ensure our members are kept up to date on any changes in regulations or best practices.
If you have questions about how this may affect your nursery, landscape, or maintenance business, please reach out to the TNLA team at [email protected] or [email protected]
Stay informed. Stay compliant. And help protect Texas ash trees from further loss.