Location: Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit
Project Number: 8010-22000-031-108-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Apr 22, 2025
End Date: Jul 29, 2026
Objective:
The primary purpose of this agreement is to better understand the host association and ecological impact of Oobius agrili, one of the introduced biological control agents against the target pest emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis). The main objectives of this agreement are using a novel EAB oviposition trap to (1) determine the host association of O. agrili with EAB and other Agrilus pests infesting their common host trees such as ash, birch, oak, and sugarberry in the EAB biocontrol release sites across a gradient of latitudes and (2) quantify impacts of O. agrili on EAB population densities in long-term EAB biocontrol sites established in Michigan (2008-2010) and Northeastern states (2015-2017) including Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Approach:
The proposed work for objectives 1 and 2 will be carried out in several states across four different EAB-invaded regions in US, where the introduced egg parasitoid (O. agrili) was also released at least two years prior to the study. In each study region, we will select a minimum of three to five study sites and deploy burlap traps at each study site on five to 10 ash trees (DBH > 5 cm; 2 traps per tree) with EAB infestation symptoms (e.g. fresh woodpecker holes. For objective 1, we will deploy oviposition traps on infested or girdled host trees, collect eggs, and identify and tabulate emerged parasitoids in seve4ral regions including Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Delaware, Georgia, and Louisiana. For objective 2, we will deploy EAB oviposition traps on ash trees at long-term biocontrol sites in Northeast states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Michigan), collect EAB eggs, identify and tabulate emerged parasitoids, and conduct life table analysis of EAB populations.
