hemlock woolly adelgid training
DESCRIPTION
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Training. Background History of HWA. Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) ( Adelges tsugae ) is a non-native insect pest that kills native eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Training
Background History of HWA
• Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelges tsugae) is a non-native insect pest that kills native eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
• HWA was first discovered in Virginia in 1951 and as of 2012 has spread to 18 eastern states where it has significantly altered or reduced native hemlock populations
Background History of HWA in Tennessee
• In Tennessee HWA was discovered in Sevier & Blount counties in 2002 and has since spread west to the Cumberland Plateau and Mountains
• Much of the hemlock population in the Blue Ridge eco-region of our state has already been lost or is severely threatened by this pest
• Since 2002, HWA has spread to 36 Tennessee counties
2011 HWA Infested County & Hemlock Native Range Map
2013 HWA Infested County Map
HWA Threats• HWA is the single greatest threat to hemlock health and
sustainability in the eastern US and is comparable to Dutch Elm Disease and American Chestnut Blight in potential impacts
• If left untreated, HWA can kill a hemlock tree within 3 to 7 years of infestation
• Hemlock forests play a vital role in riparian areas as they prevent erosion on steep banks and provide shelter for wildlife by moderating temperatures in cold winter months and during hot summers days. HWA can potentially destroy these values and forever change the forest landscape
Why Hemlocks are Important to Tennessee
• Aesthetic Value• Economic Value
• Environmental Value• Personal Value
How to Identify HWA
Eggs HatchingCrawlers
Adults on Hemlock Twig
Life Cycle of HWA
Hemlock woolly adelgid annual life cycle on hemlock in North America. (From Cheah et al. 2004)
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Most Visible Sign of HWA
HWA Spread Methods• Wind• Birds and animals• Transplant of trees from infested areas• Purchasing infested nursery stock• People
Stages of Hemlock Decline
Healthy Slight defoliation
Mortality
3 7
Years
How Does HWA Kill Trees?
• Nymphs and adults insert a stylet near the base of needles and feed on sap and nutrients
• May inject a saliva into the tree to disrupt plant growth
• Because there are no natural predators, they multiply rapidly
• Sheer numbers feeding on a hemlock results in loss of vigor and eventual death (3 to 7 years)
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Methods Available to Treat HWA
• Soil Drench• Soil Injection• Stem Injection• Foliage Spray or Basal Spray
Soil Drench Method Kioritz Soil Injector
Soil Drenching
Pros:• Very easy to use• Versatile system• Lightweight • Can use both HWA
chemical products for this system
Cons:• Should not be used by
trees next to a water source
• Have to move back leaf and duff litter to expose roots to drench or create holes around base of trees
• More room for chemical amount error
• Should not be used on steep slopes
Soil InjectionPros:
• Can be used by trees next to a water source
• Can give an accurate amount of chemical to a tree
• Can use both HWA chemical products for this system
• Versatile system
Cons:
• Sometimes injector clogs up and must be cleaned
• Injector equipment is more expensive to buy than soil drench
• Hard to find Kioritz Soil Injectors are no longer being produced but other soil injectors are becoming available
• The injector needs maintenance
NU-ARBOR 1-Two Root Injector
Kioritz Soil Injector
Stem Injection
Pros:• Can be used by trees next to
a water source• Can give a accurate amount
of chemical to a tree• Less weight compared to a
soil injection
Cons:• Limited on the types of
chemicals that can be used• Equipment costs more than
other HWA treatment methods• Must drill holes in trees to
apply chemical but newer systems are becoming less invasive
• More time-consuming system compared to the other methods
• The injection system needs maintenance
• Creates wounds in the tree
Arbor-Jet Stem Injector
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Bark Spray
Pros:• Good for treating
moderate to heavy infestations
• No drilling holes in trees to apply chemical
Cons:• Cost for the chemical Safari is
more compared to Imidacloprid
• One batch per tree • Potential for drift • More potential for chemical
exposure• Can only use Safari product in
this system• Do not apply to wet bark,
during rainfall or if rain is expected within 12 hours.
D.B. Smith Contractor Series Sprayer
Foliage Spray
Pros:• Good for treating foliage
on small hemlocks• Good for treating light
to moderate infestations
• Can use both HWA chemical products in this system
Cons:• Should not be used by trees
next to a water source • The system is heavier
compared to the other HWA treatment methods
• More potential for chemical exposure
• Foliar applications are best made in late spring or from July through September when the insect is not covered by protective wool
Field King™ Backpack Sprayer
Biological Controls: Predator BeetlesPros:
• Best chance for long-term control of HWA
• Can be used on large inaccessible areas
• Good for treating moderate to heavy HWA infestations
• Three different species of beetles are being raised at UT
Cons:• Expensive: beetles can cost
between $2-$3 each & most areas require thousands of beetles for introduction
• Only nearby rearing facility is the University of Tennessee and for public lands only
• At this time, only one company in Pennsylvania is selling beetles for private landowners
• Not good for treating light HWA infestation
• Better used on smaller diameter hemlocks
Predator beetle preying upon HWA
Photo by UT Dept. Ent. and Plant Path.
Treating Light Infestation
• Full foliage, good green color in needles
• Products-Imidacloprid, • Methods-Soil injection, soil
drench, stem injection and foliage spray
• Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round depending on weather and soil conditions
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Treating Moderate Infestation• Thinning foliage, poorer
color, needles starting to drop
• Products-Imidacloprid, and Safari
• Methods-Soil injection, soil drench or stem injection(imidacloprid only), foliage and bark spray(Safari)
• Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round, depending on weather and soil condition
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Treating Heavy Infestation
• Foliage very thin or missing in places, gray green, die back is staring or occurring
• Products-Imidacloprid, Safari
• Methods-Soil injection, soil drench, stem injection(Imidacloprid) and bark spray (Safari)
• Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round, depending on weather and soil condition
Equipment Cost of Each Method
Soil Drench• Between $7.95-$8.18• (One 5 gallon jug or one 48 ounce
Nalgene)
Stem Injection• Between $394-$400(Hypo-Hatchet® Tree Injector or Arbor-Jet Quick Jet) Other systems cost up to $1,500 or more
Soil Injector• Between $495-$1,700(NU-ARBOR 1-Two Root Injector or HTI Soil
Injector)
Foliage/Bark Spray• Between $38.75-$67.95(D.B. Smith Contractor Series Sprayer or 4-Gallon Capacity Field King™ Backpack Sprayer)
*Please note prices will vary with sales tax, shipping cost local availability and any extra accessories you may need to buy
Chemical InformationImidacloprid:• Used in any treatment method
except bark spray• For light to moderate
infestation• Treatment life is between 3-5
years, depending on tree • Could affect honey bees and
aquatic invertebrates • Must be kept out of direct
sunlight• Can not be used in bark spray
Safari (dinotefuran):• Used in any treatment method except
stem injection• For moderate to heavy infestations• Do not apply directly to water, or to areas
where surface water is present or to areas below the mean high water mark
• For trees in forests that are pollinated by bees or other invertebrates, make applications post-bloom
• Treatment life is between 1-3 years, depending on tree
• Could affect shrimp and aquatic invertebrates
*Please be sure to read and follow all label instructions when using any pesticides.
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Cost Comparison of Chemicals
Commonly Available Sizes
Cost Range Per Unit (commonly sold sizes; not
including shipping and
handling)
Inches of Tree Diameter Treated Per
Unit
Cost Range Per Inch of Tree Diameter (not factoring for
double dosing trees ≥ 24 inches in
diameter)
Generic Brands of 75% Water Soluble Imidacloprid (75%
WSP/WSB)
pouch of 4 1.6-oz water-soluble bags
(generally the smallest available amount); flats or
barrels of 16, 48 or 88 1.6-oz water
soluble bags
$35-$50/pouch of four 192 inches/pouch of 4
$0.18-$0.26/inch of diameter (when
purchasing pouches of 4)
Generic Brands of 21.4-22.6% Flowable Imidacloprid (2F/2L) 1 gallon $120-$180/gallon 1,093 inches/gallon $0.11-$0.16/inch of
diameter
Imidacloprid Tablets(Cortect brand only) 250-tablet bottle $120-$180/bottle
of 250125 inches/bottle of
250$0.96-$0.1.44/inch
of diameter
Imidacloprid 5% Injectable Chemical (Ima-Jet brand only)
1 Liter; case of 4 Liters $250-$300/Liter 250 inches/Liter $1.00-$1.20/inch of
diameter
Dinotefuran 20SG Soluable Granule (Safari brand only)
3 pound bottle; 12-ounce bottle
$370-$390/3 pounds 468 inches/3 pounds $0.80-$0.85/inch of
diameter
Cost Comparison of Chemicals
Inches of Tree Diameter Treated Per Unit
Low Price 10in/26in tree
High Price 10in/26in tree
Generic Brands of 75% Water Soluble Imidacloprid (75% WSP/WSB)
192 inches/pouch of 4 $1.80-$9.36 $2.60-$13.52
Generic Brands of 21.4-22.6% Flowable Imidacloprid (2F/2L) 1,093 inches/gallon $1.10-$5.72 $1.60-$8.32
Imidacloprid Tablets (Cortect brand only) 125 inches/bottle of 250 $9.60-$49.92 $14.40-$74.88
Imidacloprid 5% Injectable Chemical (Ima-Jet brand only) 250 inches/Liter $10.00-$52.00 $12.22-$63.44
Dinotefuran 20SG Soluble Granule (Safari brand only) 468 inches/3 pounds $8.00-$41.60 $8.50-$45.76
*Tree greater than 24 inches have to be double dose
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Steps for Private Landowners Treating HWA
Determine your goals and objectives for your forest as well as for your hemlocks. Treating your hemlocks should be a long term commitment that may involve multiple treatments. Developing a comprehensive forestry management plan is highly encouraged
1. Inspect trees to determine level of HWA infestation present: none, light, moderate or heavy.
2. Assess site conditions
3. Overall tactic
4. Collect tree data
5. Types of treatment and options for labor
6. Types of chemical for treatment
7. Chemical treatment methods
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Steps for Private Landowners Treating HWA
8. Mixing rates
9. Estimate cost of treatment
10. Combine Tree Data and the Cost of Chemical
*NOTE: It is the user's responsibility to read and follow all label instructions when using any pesticide materials.
For more information or technical assistance for landowners, please
contact:Douglas Godbee
or visit
www.protecttnforests.org