Collection of Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) byCerceris fumipennis(Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in North Carolina: Case Study at One Nesting Site

Abstract

The buprestid hunting wasp, Cerceris fumipennis Say, was detected bringing an emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, back to its nest for the first time in North Carolina, USA at a nesting aggregation in Franklin County. We took the opportunity to closely monitor the site to track further collections of the pest and to monitor activity patterns of the wasp. Of the total 271 beetles collected at this site during 14 visits in 2015 (52 h of biosurveillance), just three emerald ash borers were collected from at least two females within 1 h on one date (15 June 2015). None of the three emerald ash borers were paralyzed by the wasps. At least 20 beetle species were collected from the wasp during the flight season: 14 species were represented in the first 57 beetles collected at the site, with 6 additional species identified from later collections. The wasps actively foraged for beetles from 9 June to 6 August, 2015. Until evidence to the contrary is available, this long activity period is best interpreted as the extended emergence of a single generation rather than as a partial second generation of wasps.