We recently received an alert issued by the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. We’re being informed that hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelges tsugae, has been discovered in Nottingham NH. We don’t and can’t pass along all news like this, but since we’re in Nottingham NH, we just had to say something if for nothing else than the best interest of others in this area.
What to Do
Our Cooperative Extension urges those with hemlock trees on their property to do the following:
- Check your hemlocks to see if HWA may be present.
- If it is, note the exact location of the suspect tree(s).
- Immediately call 603.464.3016 to report your find.
More Information
The photo, inset, is found on the NHDFL website provided with the alert. The alert pamphlet offered more photos bu we couldn’t find those online. The alert issued the to-do steps above and advised urgent action stating that HWA has caused extensive tree mortality in other states.
We know this to be true.
Additional information about HWA can be found on our site and these resources as well:
- New Hampshire Division of Lands and Forests (NHDFL).
- US Forests Service Northeast Area (USFSNA).
- University of Rhode Island GreenShare (Factsheet).
- University of Connecticut IPM (Information Page).
What We’ll Do
For controls, well we used to offer the “Pt” beetle Pseudoscymnus tsugae, but it was ridiculously expensive, didn’t sell, and has been phased out. Production costs were much higher than what people were willing to pay for them. Our hands were tied and still are. We have hemlocks and must resort to other means.
Specifically we will do two things:
- We will release aphid midges, Aphidoletes aphidimyza, in the early spring. Based on private lab testing these seemed to be effective HWA egg predators.
- Stay natural so as to encourage populations of multicolored Asian or Halloween lady beetles, Harmonia axyridis. Also seemingly effective HWA egg predators but only when aphids aren’t present.
Please Help
If you are the southeastern part of NH and have discovered HWA on your hand, please contact us or call us at 603.942.8925. We would like to photograph them. And in any case, please act on this information. As the NHDFL says: We need your help to save the hemlock resource in our state.
