Page Intro: Pseudoscymnus tsugae, commonly referred to as the “PT Beetle,” is used for the control and management of the hemlock woolly adelgid. The content on this page is not yet complete. Additional information may be added to this page and it becomes available and as time permits. On this page you will find a description, life-cycle info, benefits, drawbacks, scouting info, advisories, usages, and other good stuff such as release rates.
Description
Here’s a little beetle that’s slated to become the hero and save the day, at least according to limited research that’s been done and the producer who rears them. The pest is the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, and is the scourge of the northeastern hemlocks. They are provided on a hemlock bouquet (boughs stuck in florist’s foam). [Intro]
Life-style
To this beetle’s credit, they will establish in a healthy hemlock stand provided there is food. They work like pretty much any other beetle, laying eggs by the pests so their offspring can feed. As adults they also feed on the adelgids directly. [Intro]
Benefits
The fact that they can establish and control the problem is good enough for most. [Intro]
Drawbacks
P. tsugae beetles are incredibly expensive. According to one researcher, they are not the end-all, be-all answer to the hemlock woolly adelgid as some say they are. Some of the questioned claims, however, come from his state’s government. I guess there will always be controversy. If these beetles weren’t so expensive more people could test them out and we could all learn. [Intro]
Scouting
Reduced pest numbers will be simple to determine as they are so visible. I’m not aware of any other techniques. The beetles themselves I suspect would be difficult to recover in the trees where they’d be used. [Intro]
Advisories
P. tsugae must be released in infested but healthy trees. They cannot reclaim the forest, they can only control the pest. So, scout, know what’s going on out there. If you have hemlocks that you care about that is. When trying to control the Hemlock Woolly adelgid, you might also want to try the aphid predator Aphidoletes aphidimyza. [Intro]
Usages
Forest or local stand of hemlocks. I’d say that’s about it. [Intro]
Rates, Instructions, and Purchase
Need more information? Check out our release rates or our short-term storage, handling, and release instructions. We have discontinued these predators. [Intro]
