Beetle battle: Fighting growth of (hemlock wooly) adelgids (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=224233&ac=PHnws

The Maine Forest Service said Tuesday it is investigating what appears to be a widespread infestation of hemlock woolly adelgids, an invasive insect that kills eastern hemlocks, in Kennebunkport and the surrounding area.

The agency also plans to release beetles in York next week in hopes they eat the adelgids and slow their spread in southern Maine.

Woolly adelgids, barely visible brown/black bugs, exude a woolly substance and appear at this time of year as white masses on the underside of twigs. The eggs and juvenile "crawler" stage bugs can be transported by migrating birds, squirrels, stormy weather and humans brushing up against the trees. The adelgids kill the trees by gradually sucking their sap.

The pest is native to Japan and has been expanding its range through the eastern United States for more than 50 years. It has been highly destructive on the East Coast to south of Maine.

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[Submariner]

1. Many species range are spreading North with climate change, despite what Limbaugh says

In the coming decades, these trees are going to see killer infestations unlike ever experienced on this continent. There are tropical fish species being found off VA, and recently Cape Cod. The screaming about resource loss won't start until the New England lobstah starts to disappear like the Cod did.

If it gets so warm, maybe the dastardly Maine black fly will go North, that would be no loss to that vacation-killer. Wait til the fire ant from down south make it here to Yankee habitat. I better stop here. Doing biodiversity studies for a living has gotten depressing.

[Muttocracy]

2. I've been reading about lots of terrible invasive insects in the Rockies/west

interactions of new invasive species, climate change, fire, drought...

[jpak]

4. I, for one, welcome the arrival our new Termite Overlords

not

:evilgrin:

[Muttocracy]

3. don't move firewood long distances - it's one way invasive insects spread

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html