The Goldspotted Oak Borer has already devastated thousands of old oak trees in San Diego County, and the problem threatens to spread northward. Now scientists at the University of California Riverside have been enlisted to help in the fight to save the trees. The invasive pest was likely brought in via infested firewood from Arizona.
Federal, State, and local officials have already been evaluating the problem, which is still in the research stages. A potential solution may be a tiny parasitic wasp, which has the ability to feed on oak borer larvae. It is still unknown whether it will feed on the Goldspotted Oak Borer larvae, however.
It appears that the Federal and State governments are already conceding the fight against the borer, saying it has already been established in California. This would leave the battle up to more regional and local governments–and most cannot afford the costly fight. Unless the issue is resolved, California’s oak woodlands may be a thing of the past.
