# Emerald Ash Borer

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emerald-ash-borer/433873>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 17, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emerald-ash-borer/433873 "2008-01-17T16:11:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\
**Post date:** [January 17, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emerald-ash-borer/433873/1 "2008-01-17T16:11:48Z")

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For those outside the Midwest, the [emerald ash borer](http://www.emeraldashborer.info/) is the latest threat to a specific tree that could wipe out large swaths of Eastern Hardwoods. Many cities in Michigan have responded by cutting down many of the trees solely because they are within the infestation zone, without treatment. [Imidacloprid](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imidacloprid) is the recommended insecticide, applied by drenching the soil immediately around the trunk. Grosse Point Woods has apparently started injecting it directly. Anyone here having any experience with it? As someone with experience monitoring the spread of various chemicals in the soil and groundwater, I’m always a little leery about the toxic solution.

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**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emerald-ash-borer/433873/2 "2008-01-18T04:38:59Z")

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Sorry, I suppose there’s a question in there somewhere, on the topic of invasive species, specifically emerald ash borers, and how to stop their spread.

Here’s one (perhaps more GD than GQ)-  
What’s worse, using another exotic species (a parasitic wasp in this case) or toxic chemicals (one linked to colony collapse disorder)?

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**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2008, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emerald-ash-borer/433873/3 "2008-01-18T04:48:47Z")

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> **[Colony collapse disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Collapse_Disorder)**
>
> Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is an abnormal phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a honey bee colony disappear, leaving behind a queen, plenty of food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees. While such disappearances have occurred sporadically throughout the history of apiculture, and have been known by various names (including disappearing disease, spring dwindle, May disease, autumn collapse, and fall dwindle disease), the syndrome was renamed Col...