Conduct research on integrating release of emerald ASH borer (EAB) parasitoids with use of systemic insecticides to keep mature, reproducing ASH trees alive

Release of EAB parasitoids has been shown to cause high mortality of EAB in small ASH trees after the collapse of the EAB population, but EAB parasitoids cannot build up fast enough to save mature trees in a natural forest. Aphis has identified 3 green ASH forests and 3 black ASH forests. The collaborator will work with aphis to release parasitoids in these forests and collect follow up data. They will deploy green funnel traps to measure EAB density, put out yellow pan traps and sentinel logs to measure parasitoid establishment and persistence, and collect data on the health of treated and untreated trees. Once parasitoids are established and EAB densities have collapsed, insecticide treatments will be removed and we will continue to monitor parasitoid efficacy and ASH survival. This is a long-term study of 5-10 years. There will be no sub-agreements connected with this agreement.