HWA is tiny, less than 1/16″ long, and is dark reddish-brown to purplish-black in color. Its name derives from a white “wool-like” covering called an ovisac on mature egg laying adults.
The white, woolly ovisacs can be easily identified on the undersides of hemlock branch tips from late fall to early summer.
Distribution:
NOTE: If you receive a "sign in" message, click cancel to continue. Confirmed observations of Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) submitted to the NYS Invasive Species Database. For more information, visit iMapInvasives
Habitat:
HWA develops and reproduces on all hemlock species but attacks only Eastern and Carolina hemlocks.
Threats & Impacts:
The adelgid causes hemlock decline and mortality within 4-10 years of infestation in its southern range. During the fall and winter months, developing adelgids feed on young twig tissue, including starch reserves critical to the tree’s survival.
Management Techniques:
Moving bird feeders away from hemlocks, removing infested trees from woodlots, and state quarantines may help to slow the spread, while insecticides and biological controls can be used for local suppression.
