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Hemlock woolly adelgid

Balsam Woolly Adelgid: A Foe to Firs

December 23, 2022 by Guest Contributor Leave a Comment

balsam fir courtesy Wikimedia user Abies balsamea 2 ’Tis the season for balsam fir, the fragrant evergreen that adorns our homes through the winter holidays. Its scent and long lasting needle retention make this the most popular Christmas tree and wreath species. Balsam fir is also an important timber species used for lumber. Native to North America, balsam fir (Abies balsamea) grows throughout the more northern latitudes and highest elevations of the country, including in the Northeast.

However, researchers predict a northward shift of balsam fir in an increasingly warming climate. Warmer temperatures are also contributing to a rise in populations of an exotic invasive pest – balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) – which feeds on fir trees, affecting their health and viability as lumber and Christmas trees. [Read more…] about Balsam Woolly Adelgid: A Foe to Firs

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: Christmas, Climate Change, Forestry, Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, insects, Invasive Species, nature, trees

Beetles, Silver Flies Being Used Against Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestations

October 8, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid provided by DECHemlock trees are being threatened by an invasive insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). Only the size of a sesame seed, this tiny aphid-like insect has the ability to take down an entire forest by feeding on and weakening hemlock trees – causing mortality within 5-7 years if left untreated.

As a foundation species, hemlocks are an important component of forests and provide many beneficial ecological services, like filtering water, shading streams, and providing food and habitat for wildlife. [Read more…] about Beetles, Silver Flies Being Used Against Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestations

Filed Under: Nature, Western NY Tagged With: Forestry, Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, Lake Ontario, Mexico Point State Park, nature, Oswego County, Wildlife

Join the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Winter Mapping Challenge

February 10, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Winter Mapping ChallengeFrom February 12th through March 12th, NY iMapInvasives and the NYS Hemlock Initiative are hosting NY’s first statewide hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) Winter Mapping Challenge. [Read more…] about Join the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Winter Mapping Challenge

Filed Under: Events, Nature Tagged With: Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, nature

Winter Chores: Check for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

January 23, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

HWA submitted to iMapInvasives by observer 21340Winter is the best time to survey for invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a tiny insect that is a big problem for forests and water resources in the Northeast.

HWA threatens the native conifer, the eastern hemlock, which makes up large portions of the canopy in many New York forests and maintains water quality in streams by providing shade. HWA lives, reproduces, and feeds on hemlock trees, killing trees within four to 10 years. [Read more…] about Winter Chores: Check for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Filed Under: Nature Tagged With: DEC, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, nature, Wildlife

Virtual Hike Challenge in St Lawrence, Eastern Lake Ontario Region

December 8, 2021 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

White woolly egg masses of invasive HWA on a hemlock branchThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and SLELO PRISM have invited all hikers, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers in the Saint Lawrence/Eastern Lake Ontario (SLELO) Region to take a hike to protect the region’s hemlocks this winter through their Virtual Hike Challenge. [Read more…] about Virtual Hike Challenge in St Lawrence, Eastern Lake Ontario Region

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature, Recreation, Western NY Tagged With: Great Lakes, Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, hiking, Invasive Species, nature, Wildlife

Lake George Invasive Species Infestation Update

November 17, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid provided by DECThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and partners are reporting that they have completed this year’s treatment to control and prevent the spread of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) on New York State “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve lands at Lake George in Washington County, as part of an ongoing, multi-year effort.

DEC confirmed the HWA infestation in August. The affected hemlock trees were located in the Glen Island Campground on the shore of Lake George, along the shoreline of Shelving Rock Special Management Area, at the Buck Mountain Trailhead, and on Dome Island. [Read more…] about Lake George Invasive Species Infestation Update

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: Cornell University, DEC, Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, Lake George, Lake George Land Conservancy, nature, Wildlife

250 Acres, More Than A Mile Of Lake George Shoreline Infected With Hemlock Pest

September 13, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid provided by DECThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which confirmed an invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) infestation at Lake George in August, says that the infestation affects nearly 250 acres and 1.5 miles of shoreline on Forest Preserve lands in the towns of Dresden and Fort Ann, Washington County.

The affected hemlocks are located along in the busy Glen Island Campground area of the Narrows, including Glen Island and camping areas on the eastern shoreline.  This is the second known infestation of HWA in the Adirondacks; an earlier infestation is believed to have been brought under control at the summit of Prospect Mountain, reached by the Prospect Mountain Veteran Memorial Highway, just outside Lake George Village.

[Read more…] about 250 Acres, More Than A Mile Of Lake George Shoreline Infected With Hemlock Pest

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program, DEC, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, Lake George, Lake George Land Conservancy, nature, Wildlife

Another Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation Found At Lake George

August 12, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid provided by DECAn infestation of invasive Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) has been confirmed on Lake George in the town of Dresden, Washington County.

The affected hemlock trees were located near a campsite within Glen Island Campground on the shore of Lake George. This is the second known infestation of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) in the Adirondacks. The first was located at Prospect mountain near Lake George three years ago. [Read more…] about Another Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation Found At Lake George

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Nature Tagged With: DEC, Dresden, Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Invasive Species, Lake George, trees

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Remains A Threat

April 17, 2020 by Guest Contributor 1 Comment

HWA by Adelaide TyrolOne spring-like afternoon this winter, I was skiing near Middlebury, Vermont. The trail followed Otter Creek, weaving through cedar patches, hemlock groves, and past the occasional hardwood. It was one of those days where you can shed a few layers and still break a sweat when the sun spills through gaps in the canopy. [Read more…] about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Remains A Threat

Filed Under: Adirondacks & NNY, Capital-Saratoga, Hudson Valley - Catskills, Mohawk Valley, Nature, Western NY Tagged With: Hemlock Trees, Hemlock woolly adelgid, insects, Invasive Species, nature

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