Skaneateles Conservation Area/Invasive species/Adelgidae

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae) is a native of Asia that infests and kills hemlock trees, including the eastern hemlock, which is a keystone species at the Skaneateles Conservation Area (SCA). The HWA is present in the vicinity of the SCA. It was documented at Baltimore Woods in Marcellus, within 2 miles to the east on January 19, 2022. HWA has not been documented at the SCA as of January 27, 2022, but there is a good chance that it is present. Monitoring and early treatment is important.

The balsam woolly adelgid (Adelges piceae) is a native of Europe that infests and kills fir (Abies) trees. The North American balsam fir (Abies balsamea) and Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) are thought to be most sensitive to this this insect. Of these two firs, only balsam fir is native to the northeast


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Adelges tsugae
Although the HWA (Adelges tsugae) is considered to be native to eastern Asia, it may have been present in western North America for thousands of years, feeding on western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), which is apparently more resistant to the HWA than eastern hemlocks. Predatory insects such as Laricobius nigrinus also help to keep western HWA under control and are being used experimentally on eastern HWA infestations.

The HWA is present in the vicinity of the SCA. It was documented at Baltimore Woods in Marcellus, within 2 miles to the east on January 19, 2022. HWA has not been documented at the SCA as of January 27, 2022, but there is a good chance that it is present. Monitoring and early treatment is important.