Through 20 years of exploration, led by Wang Xiaoyi, the research team from the Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute, Chinese Academy of Forestry, has identified the crucial reasons for elevation of an important wood-boring pest, emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), from a minor pest to a major pest. The team has also developed a set of key technologies for the comprehensive control of this pest, which poses a significant threat to forest and landscaping trees in China.

During their research, the team discovered and named three important natural enemies that can regulate the population of this pest and successfully developed methods for artificial mass breeding of four of its natural enemies, as well as techniques for their release and control in forest environments. They also developed early detection, trapping and rapid identification technologies for emerald ash borers. The team explored and integrated a comprehensive control technology for this pest, focusing on the treatment of affected trees and biological control. As a major innovation in the control of wood-boring pests in Chinese forestry, this technology also has significant implications for pest control abroad. It has already been widely applied in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Jilin, Liaoning, and Xinjiang, yielding remarkable results.

The findings have been published in more than 70 papers in journals such as Journal of Ecology, Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal of Pest Science, and Pest Management Science. Additionally, four national invention patents have been granted, and one forestry industry standard has been established. The achievements were identified by the Chinese Society of Forestry under the title “The Mechanism of Outbreak for Emerald Ash Borer and Integrated Technologies for Their Control,” reaching the international leading level.

Control of Wood-boring Pests by Release of Natural Enemies