Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Control
Identifying hemlock woolly adelgid.
Hemlock woolly adelgid control. Hemlock wooly adelgid are difficult to control because the fluffy secretions protect it from pesticides. Hemlock woolly adelgid adelges tsugae annand on this page. Adelges tsugae or hwa is an insect of the order hemiptera true bugs native to east asia it feeds by sucking sap from hemlock and spruce trees tsuga spp. Hwa infests large hemlock forests as well as hemlock trees in your yard.
The hemlock woolly adelgid is a tiny aphid like insect that is ravaging hemlocks from maine to georgia. Woolly adelgids sleep through the summer and are active when temperatures cool. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are effective for hwa control with minimal harm to natural predators. The hemlock woolly adelgid hwa is a small aphid like insect that feeds on hemlock tsuga spp this insect was introduced from japan to virginia in the early 1950 s and has since spread north to maine and south to georgia.
A few other insects can be confused with hemlock woolly adelgid. Hemlock woolly adelgid or hwa is a tiny white fuzzy insect. The woolly adelgid is an aphid like insect that can grow and reproduce on all types of hemlocks but only the eastern and carolina hemlocks decline and die from an infestation. The hemlock woolly adelgid ə ˈ d ɛ l.
Hemlock woolly adelgid damage. Like hemlock woolly adelgid elongate hemlock scale is a sap feeder which also can cause tree decline and mortality. Read on to learn more about the woolly adelgid and find out how to tell if the hemlocks in your yard are infested. Watch closely for hemlock woolly adelgid damage.
Picea spp in its native range hwa is not a serious pest because populations are managed by natural predators and parasitoids and by host resistance. Once you are sure your tree is a hemlock you will need to be able to recognize hemlock woolly adelgid. Hemlock woolly adelgid poses a serious threat to eastern hemlocks and by extension to the health of our forests and rivers. Dʒ ɪ d.
The woolly adelgid is considered a serious threat to species of eastern hemlocks and to the overall health of forest and river ecosystems. Dcnr has been releasing a biological control agent for elongate hemlock scale as well as using a systemic insecticide to reduce populations on high value hemlocks sites in our state forests and state parks. Though small it is destroying hemlocks from maine to georgia. It is critical to be sure you correctly identify whether or not your tree is a hemlock because hemlock woolly adelgid is only found on hemlocks.
Late october is a good time to attempt control as the second generation begins to develop. 1 optimized insecticide dosage for hemlock woolly adelgid control in hemlock trees elizabeth p. Cowles2 1warnell school of forestry and natural resources university of georgia tifton ga 2the connecticut agricultural experiment station windsor ct.