Emerald Ash Borers in Maryland: Natural History, Control, and Seasonal Changes

Invasive pests are one of the greatest threats to global forests. The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Buprestidae), is an invasive beetle responsible for killing hundreds of millions of ash trees (Oleaceae: Fraxinus spp.) since its first detection in North America in 2002. Classical biological control through the release of introduced parasitoids from the native range of EAB is the most promising means to impact this beetle at large scales. However, the successful establishment and pest suppression by an introduced biocontrol agent may depend on the synchronization of their lifecycle with that of the susceptibility windows of their host. In this talk, we will discuss the impact that this beetle has had on the environment, the methods used to control this pest, and how strategies that determine EAB phenology and the seasonal presence of their natural enemies in Maryland can impact the long-term control of this invasive beetle.

Angela Saenz is an entomology PhD student at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on the biocontrol of the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive forest pest that is attacking ash trees throughout the East Coast. She is passionate about plant-insect interactions, forest and agroecology, and biological control of pests.