Improve an artificial diet-based rearing system for emerald ASH borer (EAB) and the parasitoids being released to control IT

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded the University of Richmond $218,847 on September 30, 2026, under a Cooperative Agreement to improve artificial diet-based rearing systems for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and its parasitoid biological control agents.

The recipient will deploy three technicians—two full-time and one part-time—to conduct research and development activities. One full-time and one part-time technician will work at the APHIS EAB Biocontrol Rearing Facility in Brighton, Michigan, where they will examine extruded artificial diet formulations, develop methods for rearing adult EAB on diet, and establish protocols to increase parasitism rates of diet-reared EAB larvae. The second full-time technician will be stationed at the Forest Pest Methods Laboratory to operate an extruder and produce experimental diet batches for testing in Brighton. The principal investigator will supervise the technicians, coordinate with the APHIS project manager, procure supplies, and prepare progress reports. Weekly virtual meetings among technicians, the project manager, and the recipient will track progress and inform ongoing planning.

Deliverables include a twin-screw extruded diet rearing method for producing adult EAB and a testable protocol to evaluate parasitism success. The work aims to reduce reliance on costly live wood and foliage currently required for EAB rearing, supporting large-scale release of parasitoid wasps to control EAB spread across infested areas of the United States.

Period of performance runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2027. Place of performance is Richmond, Virginia.

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 biocontrol 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 on extruded diet, develop methods for EAB adult rearing on diet and successful parasitism of diet-reared EAB larvae. Activities to be performed: the recipient will provide three technicians (two full-time and one part-time). One full-time and one part-time technician will be based at the aphis EAB biocontrol rearing facility in brighton, MI. Activities will include conducting research examining extruded artificial diet and developing EAB adult rearing methods and developing methods to increase parasitism rates of diet-reared EAB. The other full-time technician will be stationed at the forest pest methods laboratory. They will run the extruder and produce extruded diets for testing in brighton. The principal investigator will, in cooperation with the aphis project manager, provide a detailed project work plan, supervise the technicians, purchase supplies, and write reports. The technicians, project manager, and recipient will have weekly virtual meetings to discuss progress and future planning throughout the project. Deliverables and expected outcomes: a twin-screw extruded diet rearing method to produce adult EAB and a testable protocol to determine whether diet-reared EAB can be incorporated into the mass-rearing procedures. A method to increase parasitism rates and reduce labor time spent on making parasitoid exposures. Methods that increase the number of third and fourth instars produced for parasitoid exposures. Intended beneficiary(IES): efforts will benefit U.S. State and government agencies who rely on ASH forests, forest health and ASH trees in urban landscapes, tribal communities who utilize ASH tree materials in traditional crafts, as well as the U.S. Public who visit forests containing ASH trees and/or who own ASH trees.