An invasive beetle that can kill ash trees within three years has been confirmed in Wagoner County and is affecting landowners in Creek County, Oklahoma, forestry officials say.

The emerald ash borer — a shiny green beetle roughly the size of a penny — kills trees by burrowing under the bark and cutting off water and nutrients. Experts warn it is only a matter of time before it reaches more communities, including Tulsa.

What is the emerald ash borer and why is it so destructive?

The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle, originally from eastern Asia, that targets ash trees. Unlike native pests, it did not evolve in North American ecosystems, which means local trees have no natural defenses against it, and there are no native predators to keep its population in check.

Dieter Rudolph, a forest health specialist with the Oklahoma Forestry Department, explained the threat this way:

“A lot of our native pests, they’ve got their own checks and balances. They’re part of the ecosystem. Trees have their own defenses against them. They’ve got predators. So with this non-native, it just doesn’t have that because it didn’t evolve in this ecosystem — so it’s able to grow populations at a much faster rate without anything keeping it down. And then all the ash trees, they just don’t know what to do.”

Once inside a tree, the beetle’s larvae eat the wood just beneath the bark, severing the pathways the tree uses to move water and nutrients. On their own, individual beetles do limited damage. But populations grow quickly, and the cumulative effect is fatal.

When was it first found in Oklahoma, and where has it spread?

The emerald ash borer was first detected in Oklahoma in 2016. Since then, it has been confirmed in multiple counties, primarily in the southeastern part of the state. The most recent find was in Creek County, where a landowner spotted the beetle on their property and reported it to the forestry department. Officials say they expect to confirm additional counties when trap checks are conducted around June.

How did one Creek County farmer find out his trees were affected?

Don Bruce has farmed land just outside of Bristow for 31 years. About three years ago, he began noticing his ash trees dying. After seeing a post from the Oklahoma Forestry Department on social media, he called the number listed. A forestry specialist was on his property within an hour, setting up monitoring traps. The diagnosis came back: emerald ash borer, with 99 percent certainty.

The news wasn’t good.

“They said after they start, it takes three years for one to die. But after they get in the first year, there’s no cure. And from then on, there’s no saving them — you’ll lose them,” Bruce said.

Is there any way to save an infected tree?

Largely, no. Rudolph says that by the time the beetle is detected, an infestation is typically well established.

“We can catch it before the trees start dying, so we can start our messaging,” he said. “But that area in itself is usually pretty much close to — if not past — the point of no return.”

Preventative chemical treatments are available, but they must be injected by a certified applicator and only last two to three years. They can slow or prevent new infestation but will not reverse existing damage. Officials say there is currently no cure once a tree is significantly infested.

What should homeowners look for?

Forestry officials say warning signs include a thinning canopy, dying branches, small D-shaped exit holes in the bark, and woodpecker activity on the trunk. Catching an infestation early can help slow the damage, though officials caution that visible symptoms often appear late in the process.

How does it spread, and can it be stopped?

Moving firewood is one of the primary ways the emerald ash borer spreads. Beetles can lay eggs in cut wood, and when that wood is transported to a campsite, another property, or another county, the beetles emerge in a new location. Officials are urging people not to move firewood.

The beetle is also a capable flier, covering roughly 10 to 20 miles per year on its own. Forestry officials say the insect is not currently confirmed in Tulsa County, but that its arrival there is a matter of when, not if.

How is Don Bruce handling it?

Bruce says he has come to accept that his ash trees will not survive. He hopes the forestry department can use the findings from his property to advance research toward a solution. In the meantime, he says the experience has reinforced what he already believed about the land.

“God gave it to us, and it’s our time to just take care of it,” he said. “Just be vigilant of your land, take care of your land, and appreciate what you have.”

What should you do if you spot one?

Anyone who believes they have spotted an emerald ash borer is urged to take a photo and report it to Oklahoma Forestry Services.