State Conservation Staff Fights Adelgid Infestation

October 10, 2008

Saco, ME - Staff with the Maine Forest Service (MFS) and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) are taking steps to fight a highly destructive, exotic insect that has been detected at a local state park and elsewhere in the Saco area.

In July, the hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae, (HWA) was found in Ferry Beach State Park by Janet Mangion, a park ranger and MFS Take A Stand volunteer. Mangion recognized the distinctive white woolly masses as HWA while she was pruning roadside hemlocks in the park. She immediately contacted the MFS Insect and Disease Laboratory to report the problem.

"This detection represents a significant northward expansion of the adelgid's known distribution in Maine" Allison Kanoti, MFS entomologist, said. "The adelgid is very damaging to hemlocks. However, its impact goes beyond hemlocks and can include degraded wildlife habitat and reduced water quality. It's important that we work to reduce the effect of this insect for the benefit of our forests and the communities that rely on them."

Several public information sessions, including hikes and workshops, have been scheduled to help local residents learn more about HWA in Maine.

Since Mangion's discovery, park and forest service personnel have been working together to evaluate the extent and severity of the infestation in the park and in Saco. Local residents have also reported suspect material on their hemlocks. To date, a low-level scattered infestation has been detected on park property; one additional infested area has been found on private property adjacent to the park; and infested trees were detected by homeowners in forest hemlocks in Kennebunkport and planted hemlocks in South Portland.

BPL and MFS managers are pursuing an integrated management approach to the HWA infestation in Ferry Beach State Park. Physical, biological and chemical controls will be used to control the pest.

Physical controls, including the pruning and removal of hemlocks overhanging the park access road and other high use areas, already are under way. The MFS recommends a similar approach to trail and road-side hemlock management in areas with high public use within and near adelgid infestations. HWA can be unintentionally transported by people on clothing, pets, vehicles, recreational equipment, such as tents and backpacks and other items.

Biological control using beetles that prey on HWA is planned for the park. The U.S. Forest Service recommends releasing multiple species of natural enemies as the best long-term option for managing adelgid in the forest. This fall, the MFS plans to release Laricobius nigrinus, an important HWA predator from the West Coast. MFS also has applied for grants to purchase and release Sasajiscymnus tsugae, a tiny black Japanese lady beetle, in 2009.

It is expected to take several years for these helpful insects to get established. Noticeable impacts of their feeding activity may not be seen in Maine for many years. States south of Maine, however, have seen positive effects using the same biological control species.

As a part of its Slow-the-Spread Program, MFS also is prescribing targeted chemical control of adelgid populations that are likely to cause unintended spread. Two infested spots along the park access road will be included in this fall's control program. This efficiently reduces the risk of artificial spread while minimizing impacts on beneficial insects.

In addition to direct management activities, MFS and BPL personnel will continue efforts to increase awareness of the adelgid and, through education, reduce human-caused movement of this insect. Additionally, they will monitor the impacts of their management actions on HWA populations and adapt their plans as new needs and tools arise.

Several upcoming events offer the public opportunities to learn about HWA and participate in efforts to detect this insect:

• 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, South Berwick, ME: MFS personnel will lead a hike to look for hemlock woolly adelgid and learn about the trees and shrubs on Great Works Regional Land Trust property off the Punkintown Road. Meet in the Brixham Dancewear parking lot on Punkintown Road off of Rte. 236 in South Berwick (across from Marshwood High School). For more information contact Allison Kanoti allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov, (207) 287-3147 or Christine Bennett Magruder (207)646-3604
• 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008, Saco, ME: A workshop to train people in the recognition, detection and monitoring of the hemlock woolly adelgid will be held. This free event will be open to the first 30 registrants. Participants will be encouraged to adopt a hemlock forest to survey for adelgid. The training session will have both an indoor and outdoor portion; pre-registration is required. To register or for more information contact Allison Kanoti at allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov or (207) 287-3147.
  
• Time to be announced, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, York, ME: An introduction to the field characters of hemlock woolly adelgid will be followed by a search for hemlock woolly adelgid in the Third Hill area of the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Area. For more details contact Allison Kanoti allison.m.kanoti@maine.gov (207) 287-3147or Robin Stanley (207) 361-1102.

For more information, contact, Allison Kanoti at 287-3147 or go to: http://www.maine.gov/doc/mfs/HemlockWoollyAdelgid.htm

 

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