Eastern Hemlock Project

HWA found in Kejimkujik National Park

HWA was detected in Kejimkujik Park in 2018, the Park is home to some of Nova Scotia's most impressive old-growth hemlock forest. The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is training volunteers in Nova Scotia to become "citizen scientists" to help with HWA early detection in remote hemlock stands. For more information on becoming a citizen scientist in the control of the hemlock woolly adelgid, call 902-682-2371 or email The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute. http://www.merseytobeatic.ca/

New reports on HWA management

In 2018 the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Management Plan for Canada was released. The document lays out a good roadmap for management in Canada. http://invasiveinsects.ca/hwa/HWA%20management%20plan%20Canada.pdf

A report released in early 2019 by Ancient Forest Exploration & Research (AFER) elaborates on citizen science opportunities. It also diverges with the Management Plan for Canada on the point of silvicultural management, pointing out the potential ecological impacts and saying "Silvicultural treatments should never target old-growth stands. This is of particular concern in Algonquin Park, Ontario where significant tracts of old-growth eastern hemlock in the recreation-utilization zone are available for logging, including unprotected hemlock stands reaching over 400 years in age." http://www.ancientforest.org/wp-content/uploads/rr38.pdf

A good review of the current state of management was published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management in 2018. https://sway.office.com/lmrtjVXahSWIisLc?ref=Link&fbclid=IwAR3PbURwRTx8wSEWpFw5XTYe8oGLMBOK5wOS3gLvVoXkMf1darQ1uysYNsY

HWA detection season is here

HWA is most visible late winter through early summer, so watch for the characteristic white woolly masses on the underside of branches when you're skiing and hiking. The wool can last into the summer months, so it's always worth keeping an eye out for it - but right now is the best time to look. Check out our detection page for tips. http://www.ancientforest.org/monitoring-for-hwa-how-and-when/

Biocontrol establishing in upper NY State.

Recent surveys by the New York State Hemlock Initiative are finding Laricobius nigrinus established in HWA infested stands years after release of the predator. "Some of the beetles we recently found are descended from Laricobius released as early as 2009!" the initiative report in their newsletter. "This tells us that several of our releases have been successful at establishing beetle populations. It is early in our biocontrol research process so we are not yet seeing total HWA control at these sites, but the establishment data is promising. This is great news for our biocontrol program, and we are hoping to find even more establishment evidence next year." https://sway.office.com/lmrtjVXahSWIisLc?ref=Link&fbclid=IwAR3PbURwRTx8wSEWpFw5XTYe8oGLMBOK5wOS3gLvVoXkMf1darQ1uysYNsY

Eastern hemlock project on inaturalist records citizen HWA surveys

Data from the eastern hemlock project shows that 43 HWA site surveys have documented. Many of the surveys are for 5 or fewer trees, but it shows people are watching for the insect. If you're one of the people keeping an eye on our hemlocks, please enter hemlocks into the inaturalist project, and record how many trees you surveyed for HWA (this is one of the data fields). The next few months are the best time to look, but infestations have been recorded in Nova Scotia even in mid-late summer, so it's always worth checking the underside of hemlock branches for the telltale white woolly balls.

Please add mature or old-growth hemlock forests that you know of in southern Ontario to the inaturalist project. You can also use it to record your monitoring efforts.

To learn more about HWA in Ontario or to sign up for this newsletter go to http://www.ancientforest.org/hwa/ and to learn more about how and when to monitor for HWA go to http://www.ancientforest.org/monitoring-for-hwa-how-and-when/ less ↑