Emerald Ash Borer and Insectivorous Insects

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Introduction
Predator-prey relationships are complex interactions involving many factors that may influence the stability of each population of species. Avian insectivores and their relationship with the different species of insects they consume is one of these relationships that has become of interest in recent years. Widespread outbreaks of the Southern Pine Beetles in the Southeast, Emerald Ash Borers in the upper Midwest, and Bark Beetles in the Pacific Northwest are killing various tree species in forests including pines and ash. Although some of these insect outbreaks may be able to be controlled with pesticides, introducing such pesticides in long-standing forests could potentially be detrimental to the health of forest and thus their use is not a preferred method of control. As a result, researchers are searching for a biological control agent capable of containing the spread of such pests.
One such control agent of interest among many researchers includes avian insectivores. Often, species of woodpeckers, warblers, and nuthatches occupy the same habitat as these infected trees and as generalists species, consume these insect larvae. Research in the area has focused on three key areas. The first is examining the relationship of the insectivorous birds and the non-native prey. The second is whether the avian species may serve as a biocontrol to either slow or prevent the spread of an insect outbreak thus impacting other species in the community. Finally, determining which methods are the most important in management of these habitats is of importance. This brief literature review will show what the research has shown regarding each of these issues including a discussion of literature gaps and critique.
Pairwise ...

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...ifying the Impact of Woodpecker Predation on Population Dynamics of the Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis). PloS one 8(12):e83491.
Koenig, W.D., A.M. Liebhold, D.N. Bonter, W.M. Hochachka, and J.L. Dickinson. 2013. Effects of the emerald ash borer invasion on four species of birds. Bird Invasions 15: 2095-2103.
Lindell, C.A., D.G. McCullough, D. Cappaert, N.M. Apostolou, and M.B. Roth. 2008. Factors Influencing Woodpecker Predation on Emerald Ash Borer. The American Midland Naturalist. 159:434-444.
Marquis, R.J., and C.J. Whelan. 1994. Insectivorous Birds Increase Growth of White Oak Through Consumption of Leaf-Chewing Insects. Ecology 75:2007-2014.
Haack, R. A., E. Jendek, H. Liu, K.R. Marchant, T.R. Petrice, T. M. Poland, and H. Ye (2002). The emerald ash borer: a new exotic pest in North America. Newsletter of the Michigan Entomological Society 47(3-4):1-5.

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