Invasive hemlock woolly adelgid infestation identified in Leelanau County

[marmar]

Leelanau County has been added to Michigan’s hemlock wooly adelgid quarantine, after the insect was found on trees on a private property in Leelanau Township, becoming the ninth county in the state with an active infestation.

Hemlock woolly adelgids are small insects that extract sap from hemlock trees. This can cause needles and buds to die, thinning canopies, slowing tree growth as they take on a grayish-green appearance. Without treatment, these trees die within four to 10 years.

Allegan, Antrim, Benzie, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa, and Washtenaw counties are also facing infestations.

“Hemlock woolly adelgid likely arrived in Michigan on infested nursery stock from northeastern or mid-Atlantic states. Although the tiny insects don’t move far on their own, they can be blown by wind or hitchhike on birds or animals. In a similar way, cars, boats, or RVs parked under infested trees may be able to transport the insects to new locations,” Molly Mott, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) plant health section manager said in a statement. ...................(more)

https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/invasive-hemlock-woolly-adelgid-infestation-identified-in-leelanau-county/