In the wake of three consecutive years of severe weather conditions across Texas, including prolonged freezes and droughts, trees in East Texas are facing heightened vulnerability to secondary threats. These threats, including cedar bark beetles, Ips engraver beetles, hypoxylon canker, and cedar rust fungi, are posing significant risks to the region's tree population.
Environmental stressors like extreme weather and new construction development exacerbate the susceptibility of trees to these secondary threats. Ben Plunkett, Texas A&M Forest Service District Forester, likened the situation to human bacteria, explaining that while insects and fungi are typically present in forests, healthy trees can resist infection. However, under prolonged stress, weakened trees become more susceptible to these threats.
According to Plunkett, the impact of environmental conditions can persist for years, with droughts from 2011 and 2015 still affecting trees today. Allen Smith, Texas A&M Forest Service Regional Forest Health Coordinator, emphasized that even minor stressors like cedar bark beetles can push already distressed trees into mortality.
Among the prevalent fungi affecting East Texas trees, cedar rust fungi cause irreversible damage, while hypoxylon canker manifests through browning leaves and bark discoloration. Ips engraver beetles affect pine trees with dying branches and pitch tubes, while cedar bark beetles target cypress and juniper trees, causing leaf discoloration and branch decline.
Despite the grim outlook, Smith expressed hope for tree recovery in the coming spring, as warmer and wetter weather conditions alleviate environmental stress, bolstering tree immunity to secondary threats. Residents are encouraged to report abnormal tree conditions to local foresters for inspection and intervention by the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Find your local forester here: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/contactus/location-search/