Northeast Kingdom- The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) was discovered in western North America in 1924. Since then, HWA has moved along the east coast of the United States and spread to the Northeast Kingdom. Unfortunately, the mild winter may cause an increase of HWA.
HWA varies in color from a dark reddish-brown to a purplish black. Also, it is very small -- less than 1/16 of an inch. It produces a covering of wool-like wax filaments as it matures. This allows it to protect itself and its eggs from enemies and from drying out. This “wool” like substance can be seen at its best from the fall to early summer. It can be found on the underside of hemlock trees on their outermost branch tips.
Unfortunately, HWA is starting to have an effect on forested areas in Northeast Kingdom. In its native home of Japan, HWA causes little damage to the trees it feeds on. With the absence ofnatural controlled elements in North America, hemlock trees can be damaged and killed within a few years of being infested.
“It’s moving into Vermont, and the mild winter caused it to break dormancy quite early,” Vermont Forest Health Program Manager Barbara Schultz said. “That cold snap in February seemed to really kill a lot of them, we are doing those studies right now to sort of confirm that.”
Although HWA doesn’t pose a huge threat to the Northeast Kingdom, it is still prevalent and un-preventable. Luckily it does not have the killing potential to take down an entire population of hemlock trees.