Emerald Ash Borer Defense: Your Central Texas Trees Are Under Siege – Here’s How to Fight Back
The emerald ash borer (EAB) has arrived in Central Texas, and the threat to your ash trees is very real. This invasive beetle has already been confirmed in Bosque County and is spreading rapidly throughout neighboring areas, putting valuable ash trees at risk across the region. Now EAB has spread to 36 states including Texas, and most trees will die within two to five years after infestation and without proper proactive measures, mortality can be 100% in areas.
Understanding the Emerald Ash Borer Threat
Emerald ash borer (EAB) is native to eastern Asia. It was first detected in North America in 2002, when it was discovered in Detroit, Michigan. This metallic green beetle may be small—roughly 1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide—but its impact is devastating. The emerald ash borer is an invasive, boring beetle from northeast Asia that has killed millions of ash trees since its introduction to the United States in the early 2000s.
What makes EAB particularly dangerous is that it doesn’t really matter if the tree’s stressed or not. They’re just going to go after every ash tree out there. The larvae start boring inside the trunk, under the bark. And they’re going to feed on the vascular tissue – what we call the phloem, the cambium. Those are parts of the tree that actually move nutrients throughout the tree. And when you start eating on that and you start destroying that vascular tissue, what happens is that you girdle the whole tree.
Current Status in Bosque and Falls Counties
The situation in Central Texas is rapidly evolving. Bosque County is among the infested counties, along with neighboring McLennan, Hill, and Hood counties. The recent jump southward to McLennan county and across 11 other counties in one year confirms that the EAB will continue to move around these areas and spread to others. This means property owners in Falls County and surrounding areas should be preparing for the beetle’s arrival.
Because it takes so many years to detect EAB infestations, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service entomologists across the state are advising residents of adjacent counties that they should monitor their ash trees for signs of infestation.
Preventive Treatment Protocols: Your Best Defense
The key to protecting your ash trees lies in proactive treatment before infestation occurs. One of the most effective strategies is to apply a systemic insecticide such as Imidacloprid 2F Insecticide before any visible signs of damage occur, ideally in early spring when trees can absorb the product effectively.
Professional Treatment Options
Emamectin benzoate is extremely effective for emerald ash borer control. It can very reliably control emerald ash borer for two years following application and increasing evidence indicates that it may usually be effective when used at three-year intervals. The most effective treatment option for protecting ash trees from EAB is systemic trunk injection of emamectin benzoate. This, along with many other EAB treatment options, may only be administered by a licensed pesticide applicator.
Prophylactic treatments of high-value ash trees within a 15-mile radius of finding emerald ash borers is recommended to protect trees not yet known to be infested. Homeowners and municipalities that wish to preserve their valuable ash trees have options: a soil or bark-applied systemic insecticide or direct insecticide injection. Direct insecticide injection should be carried out by a professional as they have access to the proper equipment. These treatments usually last one to two years but must be repeated over time if the trees are to remain protected.
Treatment Timing and Effectiveness
Recent university research suggests that applications of imidacloprid should be made in spring to be most effective. Research also has demonstrated that soil applications of imidacloprid-containing homeowner products provide excellent EAB protection for ash trees that are less than about 47 inches in circumference.
For best results, treatment of trees should begin before trees become infested and insecticide treatments must be repeated each year to maintain the health of ash trees. However, emamectin benzoate has been demonstrated to provide effective “rescue treatment” of ash trees that have sustained enough injury over the years that there is a reduction in the thickness of the leaf canopy. This insecticide has been shown able to allow tree recovery when trees have sustained some EAB injury but not extensive enough to have produced more than a 30% thinning of the tree canopy.
Why Professional Tree Care Matters
When dealing with EAB threats, working with experienced professionals makes all the difference. A Trusted tree care company serving Bosque & Falls Counties understands the unique challenges facing Central Texas trees and can implement comprehensive protection strategies.
Tree care professionals have access to a wider range of insecticides products than do homeowners. Professional arborists can properly assess your trees, determine the most appropriate treatment protocol, and ensure safe, effective application of systemic insecticides.
Local Expertise for Central Texas
Huaco Landscape & Irrigation brings three decades of experience to Central Texas tree care. Founded 30 years ago by Jose Luis Gonzalez, this family-owned business is rooted in Waco and takes pride in offering local services from local people. Their service area includes Bosque, Falls, Hill, Bell, and McClennan Counties, making them ideally positioned to help property owners combat the EAB threat.
Huaco Landscape values your time and works efficiently while maintaining the highest safety standards. Their team’s professionalism ensures minimal disruption to your property and a smooth process from start to finish. The company provides comprehensive tree care services, including landscape design, tree care, lawn care, tree removal, and various other landscaping solutions.
Signs to Watch For
Early detection is crucial for successful treatment. When adult borers emerge, they create a “D” shaped exit hole approximately 1/8 inch in diameter. First symptoms of trees infested with emerald ash borers include a dying-back from the top of the tree, splitting bark, and sucker growth from the base of the tree.
Under the bark, they’re going to produce these S-shaped galleries or like a gallery in zigzag, which are basically the tunnels that the larvae are doing. But when the adults emerge from that tree, they’re going to leave like a V-shaped exit hole, which is pretty characteristic as well.
The Economic Impact of Inaction
Losing and removing all the community ash trees without a mitigation or replacement plan could cause permanent loss from urban forest that will take years, or generations to replace, increased storm water runoff and water consumption, increased energy costs and higher temperatures in urban and suburban areas, and decrease in property value and neighborhood character.
The ecological impacts, the impacts that it has done to different cities, the economic impact as well… We’re talking about removal costs. We’re talking about treatments. We’re talking about potential property damage. Those are millions of dollars that are going to accumulate throughout the years.
Take Action Now
Don’t wait until EAB reaches your property. Preventive treatments are most successful on healthy or lightly infested trees. With Bosque County already confirmed as infested and Falls County in the expansion zone, now is the time to implement a protective treatment protocol.
Professional tree care services can assess your ash trees, develop a customized treatment plan, and provide ongoing monitoring to ensure your trees remain healthy. The goal is to enhance the vision of clients and the community one lawn at a time, and protecting valuable ash trees from this devastating invasive species is a critical part of that mission.
Contact a qualified tree care professional today to discuss preventive EAB treatments for your property. Early intervention is your best defense against this destructive pest, and with proper treatment protocols, your ash trees can be protected for years to come.