Native parasitoids and recovery of <i>Spathius agrili</i> from areas of release against emerald ash borer in eastern Tennessee, USA

Abstract

The parasitoid Spathius agrili Yang, introduced in the USA to suppress populations of the emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, has been recovered at a release site for the first time in eastern Tennessee after a single year of releases. Other native parasitoids, including Spathius floridanus Ashmead, undetermined species of Spathius (possibly Spathius elegans Matthews and Spathius parvulus Matthews) and Atanycolus cappaerti Marsh & Strazanac, also known to be associated with EAB, were recovered. These recoveries represent the first documentation of these four species, including the introduced S. agrili, associated with EAB in the southern USA. Implications for biological control efforts against EAB are discussed.