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Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Overview

What is Hemlock Woolly Adelgid?

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Uh-dell-jid) (HWA) is an introduced, aphid-like insect from Asia that attacks eastern hemlock.  As of 2011, eighteen states from Maine to Georgia have HWA.  Many areas infested with HWA display extensive tree decline and mortality.  HWA affects all species of hemlock, but does not affect pine, spruce, fir or other conifers. 

The most obvious sign of HWA is the covering of wool-like wax filaments produced as the insect matures.  The woolly masses generally range from about 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch in diameter.  They are most visible from late fall to early summer on the undersides of the outermost branch tips of hemlock trees.

 

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Look for These Signs on Hemlocks:

• Immobile, white woolly masses at the base of needles on undersides of hemlock twigs
• Trees that have been impacted for years will also display off-color needles, often with a grayish-cast; thinning crowns, premature needle loss.
• Note: In Maine this insect does not damage trees other than hemlocks.
  • How do I know if I have a hemlock?

 

If you think you have seen a hemlock tree with adelgid, note its location and
call the Maine Forest Service at (207) 287-2431 or
Toll Free (in Maine) 1-800-367-0223 or

use our on-line form
e-mail: allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov

As of 2012 hemlock woolly adelgid has been found in forests of more than 30 southern and coastal Maine towns. Most detections are made by informed citizens.

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Don't be Fooled by These Imposters--They are not hemlock woolly adelgid

Many things look like hemlock woolly adelgid at first glance. On closer inspection, they can be ruled out either because of their texture, their location or another characteristic. Remember, HWA will usually be found on the undersides of twigs at the bases of needles and is coated with a waxy material. When in doubt, please contact us.

 

 

Elongate hemlock scale can also be mistaken for hemlock woolly adelgid, and is often found on hemlock trees already infected with HWA. Please let us know if you think you have found elongate hemlock scale.

 

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The Maine HWA Situation in 2012

• As of May 2012, HWA is known to be established, in scattered areas, in the following Maine townships:
  • Cumberland County: Brunswick, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Great Diamond Island (part of Portland), Harpswell, South Portland, Yarmouth
  • Lincoln County: Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bristol, Edgecomb, South Bristol, Westport Island, Wiscasset
  • Sagadahoc County: Arrowsic, Bath, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Topsham, West Bath, Woolwich
  • York County: Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Eliot, Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Ogunquit, Saco, South Berwick, Wells, York

  (select image below to open a pdf version of the map)

  

• We suspect HWA is established in other townships in that general climatic region. The warm winters of since 2009 have allowed populations to build enough to reach detectable levels in areas where they had previously been established but at sub-detectable levels.
• As of May 2010, six townships in York County (Eliot, Kittery, Ogunquit, South Berwick, Wells and York) are under quarantine. Surveys continue in other infested townships and adjacent areas. The quarantine area will be expanded to include the new detections, until this can be done to limit spread of HWA please move live and fresh hemlock material as little as possible.  Low level populations of adelgid are undetectable.
• Counties in the Northeastern United states under quarantine for hemlock woolly adelgid (right) shaded in brown and yellow. Click on image for a link to the latest US Forest Service maps.

 

 

Time-line of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Detections in Maine

1999 - Hemlock woolly adelgid was inadvertently shipped to Maine from Connecticut on untreated nursery stock . The infested stock was treated and monitored for insect survival.

2000 - Hemlock woolly adelgid infested outplanted hemlocks were found in new locations. Some of the hemlocks exhibited relatively heavy infestations indicating that they were infested when planted.

2001 - Again infested outplanted hemlocks were found in new locations. New infestations were found at sites treated in previous years

2003 - Natural spread of hemlock woolly adelgid was detected in Kittery and York forests. These sites were considered to be the northern edge of the general infestation in eastern North America.  Spread was most likely from natural movement by wind, birds and/or mammals. Management tactics in this area focus on containment.

2004 - A small hemlock woolly adelgid infestation was found in Wells, Maine. Beginning in 2004, new control measures included pesticide treatments on sites with a high probability of further spread, high HWA populations and human activity, and HWA predator beetles released into remote infested areas as a biological control.

2005 - Infestations detected in Eliot and South Berwick

2006 - No new towns detected, but continued new discoveries in towns known to have established adelgid, and known populations began to intensify. Infested planted tree detected in Southport.

2007- Infested planted tree detected in Brooklin.

2008 - Park Ranger, Janet Mangion, discovers hemlock woolly adelgid during routine road-side maintenance at Ferry Beach State Park in Saco. Press coverage of the detection yields reports of infested outplanted hemlocks in South Portland and infested forest hemlocks in Kennebunkport. Follow up surveys reveal a low-level infestation throughout Ferry Beach State Park.

2010 - Hemlock woolly adelgid was detected in a large swath of coastal townships including: Arrowsic, Bath, Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Bristol, Brunswick, Cumberland, Edgecomb, Falmouth, Freeport, Georgetown, Great Diamond Island (part of Portland), Harpswell, Ogunquit,Phippsburg, South Bristol, South Portland, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset, Woolwich, Yarmouth

2011- Hemlock woolly adelgid detected in Cape Elizabeth forest trees. Infested planted trees confirmed in two locations in Mount Desert.

2012 - Forest infestation found in Alfred, Arundel, Biddeford, Kennebunk and Topsham during Maine Forest Service detection survey.

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Maine’s Slow-The-Spread program for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Management Tools: Quarantine, Surveys and Monitoring, Chemical Control, Biological Control, Outreach

Quarantine External (between states) and internal (within Maine) quarantines regulate movement of hemlock materials to reduce unintentional movement of HWA.

Surveys & Monitoring Maine Forest Service personnel regularly survey to locate new infestations and monitor the spread of HWA. Impact assessment plots have been established at five sites in Maine. Data from these sites will add to the understandingof forest impacts of the adelgid, and will be analyzed along with information collected in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut (impact plot summary).

Chemical Control In the spring and summer HWA can drop onto humans and vehicles and may be moved into uninfested areas.  Treating infested trees in high-traffic areas, such as roadsides and residential sites, can reduce accidental human spread of HWA.

Biological Control Two species of beetle, which feed exclusively on adelgid, have been released in Maine. Release sites are monitored periodically for beetle establishment (monitoring protocol). Impact assessment plots have been established at two release sites. Maine Forest Service cooperates in ongoing research into fungal agents of disease.  Biological control is the best hope for long-term control of HWA in Maine’s forests. (Off-site: biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Public Outreach An informed public plays an important role in detecting HWA.  Programs such as “Take a Stand” enlist public support and educate volunteers in HWA detection. Maine Forest Service also cooperates with Vital Signs to increase citizen monitoring for the pest (see their HWA Field Mission). Press releases help raise awareness about the threat.

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What Can You Do

While there is little you can do to prevent natural spread of this insect, you can help reduce the likelihood of hemlock woolly adelgid coming to your backyard and thriving in your trees. In our climate, there is usually time to “rescue” tree health on ornamental trees after detection of these insects. And, if forest trees are being monitored there is usually time to plan a response before widespread damage from the insect.

• Do not move hemlock trees, seedlings or nursery stock from infested areas (USFS Map, USFS List).
• Please check any hemlock plantings and forest trees for adelgids.
• Monitor your trees regularly for signs of the insect. Inspect newer growth for:
  • Discrete white cotton ball-like masses on the undersides of the twigs, usually attached at the bases of needles. Usually up to 1/8th" diameter.
  • Try to look twice a year; in late March (eggs present so wool is at its fluffiest) and early November (on new growth, settled nymphs will have just started to feed and develop their waxy coating, remnants of old wool may still be visible).
  • Use the photos for a guide, for more photos visit our Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Web site.
  • Look at lots of branches (hundreds would be good).
  • Cover the area that you are concerned about.
• Do not fertilize hemlock yard trees if you are near infested areas (adelgids thrive on the nitrogen enrichment provided by fertilizer, much like aphids).
• Remove bird feeders in the spring and summer (April through August) to reduce the number of birds drawn to your trees. Birds can transport HWA short and long distances.
• Prune live hemlock twigs and branches likely to come in contact with delivery vehicles and other things that may have contacted infested trees. Within 20 miles of the coast, consider pruning hemlock branches near trails and resting spots where people can inadvertently introduce the insect.
• Whenever possible, plan harvesting in hemlock for August through February when eggs and crawlers are not present. For more information on management planning for hemlock woolly adelgid, see Silvicultural Options For Managing Hemlock Forests Threatened by Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Orwig and Kittredge, off-site).
• If you think you have found hemlock woolly adelgid,
  • please let us know
  • learn more about management here.
• Volunteer to survey for hemlock woolly adelgid in your community.

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