The primary purpose of this agreement is to improve an artificial diet-based rearing system for emerald ASH borer (EAB) and the para sitoids being released to control IT

The Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded a $122,527 cooperative agreement to the University of Richmond to improve artificial diet-based rearing systems for controlling the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The goal is to maximize production of EAB parasitoid wasps for release under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care federal grant program (CFDA 10.025). Specifically, the University will study diet nutrition and texture to increase larval survival rates when rearing EAB and its parasitoids. The optimized diet and presentation method developed will be used at the EAB Biocontrol Rearing Facility in Brighton, Michigan to rear hundreds of thousands of parasitoid wasps for distribution and release in infested areas. This supports ongoing efforts to slow the spread and damage caused by EAB through biological control agent releases, which are critical to restoring ash trees and maintaining forest ecosystems across much of the United States. The period of performance is September 30, 2023 through September 29, 2024.

This project supports efforts to rear and release biological control agents to slow the spread and rate of damage caused by EAB. Hundreds of thousands of parasitoid wasps are reared under laboratory conditions at the EAB bioco ntrol rearing facility in brighton, MI and distributed to infested areas for release. Current rearing efforts require live wood and foliage to maintain EAB rearing, which is difficult and costly. Release of biocontrol agents is key to the restoration of ASH trees and maintenance of forest ecosystems across a large portion of the united states. Studies conducted for this agreement aim to increase neonate to late instar larval survival through diet nutrition and texture optimization and development of a useful larval diet presentation method. The optimized diet and presentation method will be used to maximize parasitoid production for release to control EAB.