The goldspotted oak borer, a deadly beetle, has spread to Ventura County, threatening thousands of oaks in Southern California.

The goldspotted oak borer, a destructive beetle first found in Southern California in 2008, has reached Ventura County, its northernmost location yet, with infestations confirmed in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana area since 2024. The pest, which spreads via firewood, attacks coast live, canyon live, and California black oaks, killing trees by damaging their nutrient-carrying cambium layer. It has already killed an estimated 200,000 oaks across Southern California. Officials are responding with tree removal, chipping, public education, and insecticide treatments, while urging residents to report sightings and avoid moving firewood. A community survey, the “GSOB Blitz,” is planned to help track the beetle’s spread and protect remaining oak forests.