Copyright: (c) Lumpkin Coalition 2012
Design and Maintenance:
Hemlock trees have short, soft green needles. The Eastern and Carolina
Hemlock trees are dying due to a spreading infestation of the Hemlock
woolly adelgid, an aphid-like insect native to Asia. Hemlock stands are
among the only old growth forests in the east and are of great importance
to wildlife, water quality, economy, and basic quality of life.
The Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is killing Georgia's beautiful Hemlocks.
This exotic aphid-like insect from Asia infests Hemlocks, sucks their sap,
and kills them in 3-6 years. Hemlocks provide cooling shade for trout
streams, food for birds, and they hold soil in place so it doesn't runoff into
The woolly adelgid is native to Asia where predator beetles hold HWA
populations in balance. Hemlocks in the western U.S. are unharmed
because a native predator beetle keeps the adelgid in check. Eastern
Hemlock species have no natural adelgid predators.
With an unprecedented degree of collaboration, citizen groups, government agencies, scientists and Georgia’s conservation community are working together to combat the Hemlock woolly adelgid and hopefully check its populations before it is too late for these beautiful evergreens. A three-pronged plan has been adopted at the state and federal levels to combat the HWA:Evaluating and implementing biological controls (such as beetles. Chemical controls for short-term treatment and in locations/situations where these are the best option (such as landscape and some forest settings)Preservation of genetic material for both the Eastern and Carolina Hemlock so that, in the event of a catastrophic impact by the HWA, we may be able to restore the Hemlock species in the future. Thanks to the hard work of all concerned, there are now three labs in Georgia -- one at Young Harris College, another at UGA, and the newest Predator Beetle Lab at NGCSU -- for rearing predator beetles for release on Hemlocks within our public forests. With these successes, Georgia has joined a multi-state effort to find an effective biological control for Hemlock woolly adelgid.
Update!Lumpkin Coalition opens a new front in the battle to save our Hemlocks! We now have three Hemlock hedges in place that will be used to establish predator beetle nurseries, or "insectaries." A team of Lumpkin Coalitioners, assisted by the UNG Beetle Lab and UNG faculty and student volunteers transplanted 116 Hemlock saplings this Tuesday.(March 2014) One hedge is on the UNG campus, and the other two are located on private land. This is a big first step towards deploying a non-insecticide solution for North Georgia.