The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) might have met its maker.

A team of international researchers created female EAB beetle decoys that electrocute male EAB beetles when they attempt to mate.

“We coated a dead female beetle with a vapor of nickel, and used the ‘nickelized’ shell to fabricate two matching molds in the shape of a resting beetle,” said Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Ph.D., Penn State. “Pressing a structurally colored plastic sheet between the two molds while simultaneously applying heat, we cast numerous replicas or decoys. The finished bioreplicated decoys retained the surface texture of the beetle at the nanoscale. Additionally, we painted some decoys a metallic green.”

Researchers created decoys using 3D- printing, too. Findings provided males were more lured to the dead female beetles than the bioreplicated decoys.

In addition to Penn State, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Forest Research Institute of Matrafured, Hungary, and the United State Department of Agriculture also contributed to the decoy project.

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