Emerald Ash Borers Are Beetles Whose Larvae Eat the Leaves

Multiple Choice

Emerald ash borers are beetles whose larvae eat the leaves of ash trees. Without treatment of the trees, the beetles usually kill all ash trees in an area within 10 years. Which of the following events would provide the best possible avenue for saving the ash trees?

A) development of a new pesticide that kills 50% of the emerald ash borers
B) constant application of DDT to kill the beetles
C) recognition by ash trees of the need for a chemical defense and subsequent production of the chemical by the ash trees to kill the beetles
D) discovery of a gene in ash trees that prevents feeding by emerald ash borers and subsequent breeding of more ash trees with this chemical