The survey involved installing 15 yellow pan traps on 15 different ash trees located across the area that we previously released the wasps. These traps consist of two plastic yellow bowls placed over each other and mounted to a tree. A 20% clear solution of propylene glycol and a small quantity of clear dish soap are placed in the top bowl. The top bowl has a filter where excess fluid during rainy period flows out into the bottom bowl.  The color yellow attracts many insects including the parasitoid wasps that we are looking for, so insects are lured toward the trap, land in the solution and drown. The dish soap breaks the surface tension, not allowing them to land on the surface. The Propylene glycol that is in the pan is food grade and can be poured on the ground and will preserve the caught insects for about a week.

From June 5th through September 25th, rain or shine, a group of dedicated volunteers and SLEO staff monitored the traps weekly to collect trap specimens, refill the traps with the solution, and view specimens under a microscopes in the lab. All insects suspected of being an EAB parasitoid wasp were placed in a vial and sent to a USDA APHIS Lab in Michigan for verification.