Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Hemlock Woolly AdelgidHemlock Woolly Adelgid

Contact InformationContact Information

Jim EsdenJim Esden Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation

100 Mineral Street, Suite 304 100 Mineral Street, Suite 304 Springfield, VT 05156Springfield, VT 05156

802-885-8822802-885-8822 jim.esden@state.vt.us jim.esden@state.vt.us

Life CycleLife Cycle

HabitatHabitat

Where does HWA live?Where does HWA live?

Photo: Anne Eschtruth

Photo: B. Burns

Surveying and ReportingSurveying and Reporting

Where to look?Where to look?

Good habitatGood habitat

Location, location, Location, location, locationlocation

Site vs. standSite vs. stand

How to lookHow to look

Branch = 1 meterBranch = 1 meter 200 branches/site200 branches/site What you can reachWhat you can reach Binoculars optionalBinoculars optional Light over shoulderLight over shoulder Free hand as guide & Free hand as guide &

backgroundbackground

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Survey Form

Inspect 200 branches (39”), <20 branches/ tree. Sketch location on map or on back. GPS in NAD83 Decimal degrees

Location Name Town

Landowner &/or Site Information

Observer(s) Hours

Team Leader Leader Contact Info

GPS North GPS West Date

# of Branches Examined # of Samples

Collected HWA Present?

% of Branches Examined on Planted (not Wild) Trees Circle one 0-25% 25-50% 50-75% 75-100%

If HWA is present or suspected, fill out the information below.

Sample ID Location description (may include GPS)

Notes:

Send form and samples to: Trish Hanson

Forest Protection Entomologist Forest Biology Lab

103 South Main Street, Env./Ag. Lab. Bldg. Waterbury, VT 05671-0409

Key messages Key messages

Credit: A. KanotiCredit: A. Kanoti

Healthy trees, with Healthy trees, with adequate moisture, are adequate moisture, are more likely to survivemore likely to survive. .

Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely.Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely.

…we don’t know the impact in northern New England.

Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely..Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely..……Infested trees take years to succumb. Infested trees take years to succumb.

Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely..Don’t “salvage” hemlocks by cutting prematurely..……Will remove the potentially resistant treesWill remove the potentially resistant trees

Where softwoods are Where softwoods are critical, consider species critical, consider species

diversificationdiversification

Infested (Previously reported)

Infested (Newly reported)Uninfested

Hemlock can only be received by facilities with a Compliance Agreement

Hemlock wood products are regulated by Hemlock wood products are regulated by quarantine. quarantine.

In infested stands, conduct harvests between August and March, when the insect is immobile.

In critical habitats, like In critical habitats, like deer wintering areas and deer wintering areas and near water, even unthrifty near water, even unthrifty hemlocks provide benefits. hemlocks provide benefits.

Natural ControlNatural Control

Biological controls hold promise

Chemical ControlChemical Control

Insecticides are generally Insecticides are generally impractical in the forest. impractical in the forest.

Systemic insecticides may Systemic insecticides may protect individual trees. protect individual trees.

Vermont Strategy- Slow the SpreadVermont Strategy- Slow the Spread

Eradication of outlying populationsEradication of outlying populations Suppression activities along the leading edgeSuppression activities along the leading edge Integrated management in infested areasIntegrated management in infested areas SurveysSurveys QuarantineQuarantine Preserving genetic resistancePreserving genetic resistance ““X” FactorX” Factor

““X” Factor –X” Factor –Underlying concepts:Underlying concepts:

Early detection is criticalEarly detection is critical

Most discoveries are made by informed Most discoveries are made by informed citizenscitizens

The “X” Factor = YOUThe “X” Factor = YOU

What can you do?What can you do?

Be on the look out – call if you find itBe on the look out – call if you find it Take your bird feeder down in early springTake your bird feeder down in early spring Don’t buy nursery stock from infested areasDon’t buy nursery stock from infested areas Keep your hemlocks as healthy as possibleKeep your hemlocks as healthy as possible Don’t rush to salvage hemlock prematurelyDon’t rush to salvage hemlock prematurely Get others involved – start a local monitoring Get others involved – start a local monitoring

programprogram

For more information For more information or to report a findor to report a find

jim.esden@state.vt.us Jim Esden 802-885-8822Jim Esden 802-885-8822

http://www.vtfpr.org/protection/hwafactsheet.cfm

http://vermonttv.net/Hemlock.htmlhttp://vermonttv.net/Hemlock.html