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The emerald ash borer was accidentally realsed into the United States from Asia. Since its release, the invasive beetle has been extremely destructive to native ash trees in the United States. Scientists travelled to China to study the emerald ash borer and to try and discover the emerald ash borer’s Achilles heel — or a parasite to be precise — by investigating the beetle’s life stages. They discovered various species of parasitic wasps that attack the emerald ash borer during the various stages of its life or during certains times of the year. As a result, in an attempt to slow down the beetle and to level the playing field, scientists are releasing these parasitic wasps to fight the emerald ash borer in the United States. An environmental assessment was conducted to determine whether the wasps would attack native species, and it was determined that the release of these insects would not significantly impact the natural environments of the United States.

Via e360 digest