An international team of scientists has discovered a group of fungi that attack and kill the emerald ash borer, an invasive species that has caused widespread devastation to ash trees in North America. The findings, published in the journal *Scientific Reports*, offer new hope for controlling the spread of this destructive pest.

The emerald ash borer is a wood-boring beetle native to Asia that was first discovered in Michigan in 2002. Since then, it has spread to 35 states and the Canadian province of Ontario, killing hundreds of millions of ash trees. The beetle larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. This damage causes the tree to decline and eventually die.

Current methods for controlling the emerald ash borer include chemical pesticides, biological control agents, and tree removal. However, these methods are often expensive, time-consuming, and not always effective.

The newly discovered fungi offer a potential new approach for controlling the emerald ash borer. The fungi are naturally occurring and have been found to attack and kill the beetle larvae. The scientists believe that these fungi could be used as a biocontrol agent to help slow the spread of the emerald ash borer.

Further research is needed to evaluate the potential of these fungi as a biocontrol agent. However, the initial findings are promising and suggest that these fungi could play a valuable role in protecting ash trees from the emerald ash borer.

The discovery of these attacking fungi is a significant breakthrough in the fight against the emerald ash borer. It offers new hope for protecting ash trees and preventing the further spread of this devastating pest.