Biology and Life History ofBalcha indica, an Ectoparasitoid Attacking the Emerald Ash Borer,Agrilus planipennis, in North America

Abstract Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire), discovered in southeastern Michigan, USA in 2002, has become the most destructive and costly invasive forest insect in North America. This phloem-boring beetle has also invaded Moscow, Russia and continued spread of EAB potentially threatens European ash (Fraxinus spp.) species. This review summarizes EAB life history, including interspecific variation in host preference, invasion impacts and challenges of detecting new infestations and provides an overview of available management tactics. Advances in systemic insecticides, particularly emamectin benzoate products applied via trunk injection, have yielded effective and practical options both to protect individual trees and to slow EAB population growth and ash decline on an area-wide basis without disrupting natural enemies. Economic costs of treating ash are substantially lower than removal costs, retain ecosystem services provided by the trees, reduce sociocultural impacts and conserve genetic diversity in areas invaded by EAB. Girdled ash trees are highly attractive to EAB adults in low-density populations and debarking small girdled trees to locate larval galleries is the most effective EAB detection method. An array of woodpeckers, native larval parasitoids and introduced parasitoids attack EAB life stages but mortality is highly variable. Area-wide management strategies that integrate insecticide-treated trees, girdled ash trap trees and biological control can be adapted for local conditions to slow and reduce EAB impacts.

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Estimates of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larval galleries in branch samples from asymptomatic urban ash trees (Oleaceae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2015.68 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 148 (3) ◽

pp. 361-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Jean J. Turgeon ◽

Jeffrey G. Fidgen ◽

Krista L. Ryall ◽

Taylor A. Scarr

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

North America ◽

Surface Area ◽

Predictive Power ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Significant Source ◽

Resource Managers ◽

Ash Trees

AbstractAgrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is causing extensive mortality of ash (Fraxinus Linnaeus; Oleaceae) in North America. Once detected in an area, resource managers require methods to obtain estimates that could improve management decisions. We studied the within-crown and within-branch distribution and abundance of A. planipennis feeding galleries by sampling 3-m-long branches from asymptomatic urban ash trees and subdividing each branch into 12 sections of 25 cm each. We found galleries in all 12 sections of some, but not all, branches. Section was a significant source of variation in A. planipennis gallery density/m2 of branch surface area. A comparison of predictive power and efficiency of estimates for samples of increasing length, and for samples of the same length but consisting of different combinations of sections, revealed that those based on the two basal 25-cm sections of a branch from the lower-crown or mid-crown of an asymptomatic tree were less accurate and precise than those based on more sections, but were the most cost effective. Whittling more sections per branch, irrespective of the combinations of branch sections per length, improved predictive power but reduced cost effectiveness. We also observed that crown level was not important, and aspect was only marginally so, when estimating gallery abundance per sampled branch.

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The use of Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) for surveying and monitoring emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) infestations in eastern North America

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2013.53 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 146 (1) ◽

pp. 90-105 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Philip Careless ◽

Stephen A. Marshall ◽

Bruce D. Gill

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Monitoring Tool ◽

Wood Boring

AbstractThe beetle-hunting wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae), native to eastern North America, provisions its subterranean nest almost exclusively with adult metallic wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), including the destructive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, EAB). This wasp provides a unique opportunity to survey indigenous and nonindigenous buprestid diversity. We discuss the accessibility, sustainability, and productivity of C. fumipennis with respect to its application as a buprestid surveying and monitoring tool.

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Review of the emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), life history, mating behaviours, host plant selection, and host resistance

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2015.4 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 147 (3) ◽

pp. 252-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Therese M. Poland ◽

Yigen Chen ◽

Jennifer Koch ◽

Deepa Pureswaran

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Host Plant ◽

Host Resistance ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

The United States ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Host Plant Selection ◽

Plant Selection ◽

Ash Trees

AbstractAs of summer 2014, the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), has become established in 24 states in the United States of America and has killed tens of millions of ash trees since its introduction into Michigan in the 1990s. Considerable research has been conducted on many aspects of EAB life history, natural history, ecology, and management strategies in an attempt to contain this devastating pest. In this article, we review the life history, mating behaviours, and host plant selection by EAB in North America as well as host resistance to EAB attack.

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Modelling local and long-distance dispersal of invasive emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera) in North America

Diversity and Distributions ◽

10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00218.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 71-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 128

Author(s):

Jim R. Muirhead ◽

Brian Leung ◽

Colin Overdijk ◽

David W. Kelly ◽

Kanavillil Nandakumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Long Distance Dispersal ◽

Long Distance

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Biotic mortality factors affecting emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) are highly dependent on life stage and host tree crown condition

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485315000498 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 105 (5) ◽

pp. 598-606 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

D.E. Jennings ◽

J.J. Duan ◽

P.M. Shrewsbury

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Natural Enemies ◽

Life Stage ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Host Tree ◽

Tree Crown ◽

Crown Condition ◽

Mortality Factors ◽

Tree Resistance

AbstractEmerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, is a serious invasive forest pest in North America responsible for killing tens to hundreds of millions of ash trees since it was accidentally introduced in the 1990s. Although host-plant resistance and natural enemies are known to be important sources of mortality for EAB in Asia, less is known about the importance of different sources of mortality at recently colonized sites in the invaded range of EAB, and how these relate to host tree crown condition. To further our understanding of EAB population dynamics, we used a large-scale field experiment and life-table analyses to quantify the fates of EAB larvae and the relative importance of different biotic mortality factors at 12 recently colonized sites in Maryland. We found that the fates of larvae were highly dependent on EAB life stage and host tree crown condition. In relatively healthy trees (i.e., with a low EAB infestation) and for early instars, host tree resistance was the most important mortality factor. Conversely, in more unhealthy trees (i.e., with a moderate to high EAB infestation) and for later instars, parasitism and predation were the major sources of mortality. Life-table analyses also indicated how the lack of sufficient levels of host tree resistance and natural enemies contribute to rapid population growth of EAB at recently colonized sites. Our findings provide further evidence of the mechanisms by which EAB has been able to successfully establish and spread in North America.

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Phenology of Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) and Its Introduced Larval Parasitoids in the Northeastern United States

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/toz304 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 113 (2) ◽

pp. 622-632 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael I Jones ◽

Juli R Gould ◽

Hope J Mahon ◽

Melissa K Fierke

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

New York ◽

Biological Control ◽

North America ◽

Russian Far East ◽

Far East ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Larval Parasitoids

Abstract Biological control offers a long-term and sustainable option for controlling the destructive forest pest emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, in North America. Three larval parasitoids, Spathius agrili Yang (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Tetrastichus planipennisi Yang (Eulophidae), and Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac, have been introduced to North America from the native range of EAB (northeastern Asia). While T. planipennisi appears to be persisting where it has been introduced in northern United States, S. agrili failed to establish in northeastern states. The more recently identified parasitoid S. galinae was recovered from the Russian Far East and climate matching suggests it should be suited for release in colder climates. We collected data on the phenology of EAB and its introduced larval parasitoids from colonies established in an insectary, growth chambers, and field-caged trees in Syracuse, New York to determine whether asynchrony between parasitoids and EAB or climate could impact establishment and persistence. Phenological data indicated EAB has one and 2-yr life cycles in New York, with parasitoid-susceptible EAB larvae available spring to fall for parasitism. Insectary and growth chamber studies indicated S. galinae and T. planipennisi were synchronous with EAB phenology, and field studies suggested both species could overwinter in northeastern climates. Spathius agrili was asynchronous with EAB phenology and climate, emerging when fewer parasitoid-susceptible EAB larvae were available and temperatures were not optimal for survival. Our results suggest S. galinae and T. planipennisi are suited for biological control of EAB at the northern limits of its range in North America.

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Emerald Ash Borer Approaches the Borders of the European Union and Kazakhstan and Is Confirmed to Infest European Ash

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12060691 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 691

Author(s):

Mark G. Volkovitsh ◽

Andrzej O. Bieńkowski ◽

Marina J. Orlova-Bienkowskaja

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

European Russia ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

The European Union ◽

Green Ash ◽

Ash Trees ◽

European Ash

Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis, native to East Asia, is an invasive pest of ash in North America and European Russia. This quarantine species is a threat to ash trees all over Europe. Survey in ten provinces of European Russia in 2019–2020 showed that EAB had spread faster and farther than was previously thought. The new infested sites were first detected in St. Petersburg (110–120 km from the EU border: Estonia, Finland) and Astrakhan Province (50 km from the Kazakhstan border). The current range of EAB in Europe includes Luhansk Province of Ukraine and 18 provinces of Russia: Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Lipetsk, Moscow, Orel, Ryazan, Smolensk, St. Petersburg, Tambov, Tula, Tver, Vladimir, Volgograd, Voronezh, and Yaroslavl. Within these, only seven quarantine phytosanitary zones in five provinces are declared by the National Plant Protection Organization of Russia. EAB was not found in the regions along the Middle Volga: Mari El, Chuvash and Tatarstan republics, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara and Saratov provinces. The infested sites in St. Petersburg and in the Lower Volga basin are range enclaves separated from the core invasion range by 470 and 370 km, correspondingly. It is possible that new enclaves can appear in the cities of Eastern Europe and Kazakhstan far from the current known range. All previously known infestations in European Russia were in green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), which was introduced from North America, and individual trees of European ash (F. excelsior). A first confirmed case of mass decline of several thousand of EAB-infested European ash trees in Moscow province is provided. Therefore, there is no more doubt that under certain conditions EAB can seriously damage native ash trees in European forests.

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Buprestid sampling at nests of Cerceris fumipennis (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in southern Ontario: the first Canadian records of three buprestids (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/n05-016 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 137 (4) ◽

pp. 416-419 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Stephen A. Marshall ◽

Steven M. Paiero ◽

Matthias Buck

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Eastern North America ◽

Southern Ontario ◽

Nest Sites ◽

Provincial Park

AbstractThree buprestid species, Actenodes acornis (Say, 1836), Dicerca asperata (Laporte et Gory, 1837), and Dicerca lepida LeConte, 1857, are newly recorded from Canada on the basis of a collection of 57 buprestid specimens taken from females of the crabronid wasp Cerceris fumipennis Say, 1837 in Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent region, Ontario, in July 2004. Nine additional buprestid species were taken from wasps that were intercepted as they approached their nests, demonstrating the effectiveness of C. fumipennis nest sites as sampling stations for buprestid beetles. We suggest that this sampling method could be applied to efficiently monitor the spread of the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in eastern North America.

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Parasitoid Guilds ofAgrilusWoodborers (Coleoptera: Buprestidae): Their Diversity and Potential for Use in Biological Control

Psyche A Journal of Entomology ◽

10.1155/2012/813929 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Philip B. Taylor ◽

Jian J. Duan ◽

Roger W. Fuester ◽

Mark Hoddle ◽

Roy Van Driesche

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

North America ◽

Host Plants ◽

Emerald Ash Borer ◽

Agrilus Planipennis ◽

Native Parasitoids ◽

The Family ◽

The Usa ◽

Egg Parasitism ◽

Hymenopteran Parasitoids

Literature studies in North America (US and Canada), Europe, and Asia (particularly Russia, China, Japan, and the Korean peninsula) were reviewed to identify parasitoid guilds associated withAgriluswoodborers. There are at least 12 species of hymenopteran parasitoids attacking eggs ofAgrilusbeetles and 56 species (36 genera), attackingAgriluslarvae infesting various host plants in North America, Asia, and Europe. While most of the egg parasitoids (9 species) belong to the family Encyrtidae, a majority of the larval parasitoids are members of five families: Braconidae (24 species/11 genera), Eulophidae (8 species/4 genera), Ichneumonidae (10 species/9 genera), and Eupelmidae (6 species/5 genera). The highest rate ofAgrilusegg parasitism (>50%) was exerted by encyrtid wasps (4 species) in North America, Asia, and Europe. In contrast, the highest rate ofAgriluslarval parasitism (>50%) was caused by species in two genera of braconids:Atanycolus(North America) andSpathius(Asia), and one eulophid genus,Tetrastichus(Asia and Europe). Reported rate ofAgriluslarval parasitism ichneumonids was frequent in North America, but generally low (<1%). Potential for success in biological control of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennisFairmaire) in the USA with North American native parasitoids and old-association Asian parasitoids is discussed.

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