BOONE COUNTY - Emerald Ash Borer Beetles have continued to expand in Missouri. The invasive species was first discovered in Michigan in 2002 and has expanded into 89 counties in Missouri.
The beetle kills ash trees by laying its larva in the bark of the tree. From there, it eats the inside of the tree depleting it of nutrients.
To help control the population, MU professor Kevin Rice said wasps could be the answer. What we have found is that when you release these wasps, the density, or the abundance of emerald ash borer rapidly decreases, Rice said. They re very effective at killing these beetles.