A new tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei)-based rearing system for Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis)--implications for biological control programs

The methods for producing high quality, viable hymenopteran natural enemies useful for biological control programs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, in the United States have vastly improved in the previous few years. Whereas in the past, EAB hosts were obtained by scouring field sites and destructively sampling trees, we now have the ability to produce all stages (from egg to adult) of EAB in the laboratory using our new tropical ash (Fraxinus uhdei)-based rearing system. This ability to produce EAB in the laboratory allows researchers to more cost-effectively produce natural enemies for both field and laboratory projects.  The capacity to produce EAB adults using greenhouse-stocked tropical ash is also a huge step toward streamlining EAB parasitoid production by allowing year-round colonies of EAB. This method will be crucial for future EAB parasitoid mass-rearing programs. It is our hope that other laboratories may adopt this method.