Invasive beetle deadly to ash trees has hit west and southwest Dallas

A bug that kills ash trees has been detected in southwest and west Dallas: The emerald ash borer, an invasive beetle that presents a major threat to ash trees, has been spotted within Dallas city limits, including the Great Trinity Forest.

The ash borer was verified by city staff and the Texas A&M Forest Service in two locations within city limits including one near the intersection of Texas Loop 12 and I-30 and another on the south side in the Great Trinity Forest.

The iridescent bug bores its way under the bark of the tree and lays its eggs; the larvae feed on the tree and kill it. The bug feeds on all varieties of ash trees. It's lethal and is threatening to wipe out ash tree populations. EAB kills unprotected ash trees within 2-3 years of infestation and can eliminate entire stands of ash trees within 10 years.

Approximately 40 percent of the trees in the Great Trinity Forest in Dallas are ash trees.

The beetle was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and has spread to more than 25 states, killing millions of trees. Since then, it has spread to 35 states including Texas, where it was first detected in Harrison County in Northeast Texas in 2016. It's since been detected in Bowie, Cass, Dallas, Denton, Marion, Parker, and Tarrant counties, and was found in Dallas County in 2022.

Now, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the bug has been confirmed in five new Texas counties: Grayson north of DFW, Hill southwest of DFW, Hood southwest of Fort Worth, McLennan in Waco, and Palo Pinto west of Fort Worth.

According to a release from the city of Dallas, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is working with Texas A&M Forest Service (TFS) and other city departments to monitor the EAB. To track their spread, park officials have placed EAB traps throughout affected areas within the city. After continual monitoring of the traps, the department reports its findings to the TFS.

Park conversation manager Brett Johnson says that collaborating between city, state, and local environmental agencies is key in controlling the effects of the ash borer.

"Working with others is critical in mitigating the damage the EAB creates. Dallas has been successful in making sure our parks and green spaces remain healthy because of the combined resources and expertise,” said Johnson.

In addition to ongoing monitoring to track the beetle’s spread, the park department’s actions to minimize the EAB threat involve treating select ash trees within city parks to protect against infestation, and a physical evaluation of infected and declining ash trees.

Reports of EAB in north Dallas along White Rock Creek are undergoing confirmation by the TFS.

In June, Dallas Park and Recreation and national tree care specialist Arborjet will host a tree health and EAB workshop for interested residents, arborists and companies who manage EAB and other pests and diseases threatening Texas trees.
Residents can find resources to protect their ash trees at City of Dallas Emerald Ash Borer information page.