Emerald ash borer research

Wright State biology professor Don Cipollini finds that the emerald ash borer, which is destroying ash trees in a large part of the country, has apparently spread to a different tree.

Roundup of coverage of biology professor Don Cipollini’s emerald ash borer research.

WYSO Public Radio: Emerald ash borer could have a new host

A Wright State University researcher has found evidence that the emerald ash borer, a destructive invasive insect, has found a new host — which means ash trees might not be the only trees at risk.

The emerald ash borer was first detected in southeast Michigan about 12 years ago, and it has decimated ash tree populations fanning out from there. Yellow Springs resident and Wright State biologist Don Cipollini had a suspicion that another tree, the ornamental white fringetree that is native to the region, could be a host. Listen to the report >>

Dayton Daily News: Ash killer spreading to other trees

Cipollini made the discovery Aug. 17 when examining an ornamental fringetree planted along the Little Miami Scenic Trail in Yellow Springs. He found a typical borer exit hole on the tree’s bark — a hole shaped like a capital “D.”

He found another infested fringetree at Cox Arboretum, 6733 N Springboro Pike, and another at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield. When he opened up one of the trees, he found an adult borer. Read more (subscription required) >>

Entomology Today: Emerald ash borer may have spread to different tree

The emerald ash borer, which is destroying ash trees in a large swath of the nation, has apparently spread to a different tree, according to a researcher at Wright State University. Professor Don Cipollini has found that the invasive green beetle has apparently begun to attack white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). Read more >>

The Columbus Dispatch: Ash borer may be infesting on another type of tree

A voracious beetle that has destroyed ash trees throughout Ohio might also be killing off another type of tree, according to research by a university biologist.

Wright State University professor Don Cipollini discovered that the emerald ash borer also is using the white fringetree as a host, eating its leaves and infesting its trunk to reproduce. Read more >>

Louisville Courier-Journal: Ash borer spreads its attack to new tree

Cipollini, a professor of plant physiology and chemical ecology, conducts other research on what makes Asian ash trees more resistant, and various plant and insect interactions. To make his case that ash trees were attacking the white fringetree, he found the pest’s characteristic D-shaped exit holes in them, and fully developed larval galleries under the bark that were identical to those caused by the ash borer.

But official confirmation, he said, required capturing an adult male, and examining its genitalia — what Cipollini described as the gold standard for making an official identification. Read more >>