Native Species Now Fighting Emerald Ash Borer

It was long thought the main reason the emerald ash borer took hold of American forests was because it had no natural predators, but scientists are reporting that has changed, according to the Wall Street Journal. Certain woodpeckers, nuthatches and parasitic wasps have developed a taste for the destructive beetles, helping reduce populations after a decade of rapid growth, WSJ reports, citing a report this month by the U.S. Forest Service and Cornell University. Since the emerald ash borer first came over from China in 2002, researchers have been trying to stop them with Chinese parasitic wasps, traps and pesticides, but without a natural predator, the insects thrived. Now that native parasitic wasps, red-bellied woodpeckers and white-breasted nuthatches have developed a taste for them, however, scientists are more optimistic about controlling the destruction. And because of the new food source, woodpecker and nuthatch populations are booming.Also, because woodpeckers are preying on larval borers, researchers are more easily able to identify infested trees by the beak marks the birds leave on the bark.