Wouldn't it be better to just let the EAB run it's course and kill all the ash trees and then reintroduce the ash trees in 5 years or so after all the EAB have (hopefully) died due to lack of food? Seems like the wasps will just slow down the process and keep the EAB and wasps around forever now. Personally it never bothered me that much to lose the ash trees. Up to 50% of the trees around here are ash. I've heard that back before settlers came and cleared most of the forests in Ohio that there was a much higher population of nut trees, but since then the faster growing ash and red/silver maples have taken over. I saw this as an opportunity to let the hickories, oaks, and beech trees thrive.
I would not look at it favorable to let all the ash tree die out. Really hurts every time I look into our woods. Also, ash is used, or was used for many things. Not so much any more except for firewood.
Who knows how this is going to play out. And what if, in the absence of Ash trees what the EAB might go after.What if they like oak or something else when faced with loss of their primary food. Scary scenarios could happen.
I think it's scary either way. Maybe the EAB goes after something else. Maybe these wasps start killing more honey bees.
Don't think introducing one species to control another species has ever worked out favorably/without consequences.
they introduced fisher cats to Vermont to control porcupine... nobody thought easier to catch house cats ... small dogs and rabbits
In all fairness to the Fisher Cats, they are native to our region and were wiped out. But you are right, nobody figured in the small dogs and cats.
These seem to be closely related to the natural wasps that feed on fly eggs/larvae. We buy those monthly on a subscription and release them on the manure pile to keep the flies down. The fly killer wasps are apparently a natural species but exist in too low of a number to control flies, so by buying them you throw the numbers in your favor. Trust me, you'll never know they're there.
I just saw a bug on my sliding glass door that resembles the picture Ive seen of one of these wasps. I cant say for sure if it was one of these or a native one. So I looked online to see if they had introduced them in NY, and they have, along with 19 other states since 2007. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_health/2014/faq_eab_biocontrol.pdf For what it's worth, all my ash trees still appear to be in great health this year, and I've yet to see any EAB galleries in any of the dead ones I've taken for firewood.
