Close up photo of the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid | Photo By: Lorraine Graney Bartlett Tree Experts
The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) has two known populations in Ontario. Colin Cassin is an Invasive Species Policy Manager and mentions that these insect-like creatures are found dozens of meters up in a Hemlock tree. “These little white woolly almost look like the end of a Q-tip”, Cassin said.
HWA can suck the fluid from plants and can kill these trees off as early as 4 years. The insect likes to stick themselves underneath the bottom of a Hemlock Leaf. “If people go to look for it in their Hemlock Trees and look for the centre, they will take a lot of time trying to find it”, he said. Colin mentions that the HWA do become more visible in the spring or kind of late winter time.
When the species are more visible, Colin’s team will use some sampling techniques to find more information about HWA. “We’re looking for different signs and symptoms of our next big basis”, Cassin said.
As of right now HWA is not in the London area but Colin mentions that they are close and the nearest location that some were found are in the Niagara region. “The next closest is over east in the GTA area”, he said. HWA spread in different ways but Colin brought up that it can spread from birds feet. The main concern around the species is that it can start to wipe out hemlock forest that other wildlife might depend on. Another consequence is the changes in the carbon cycle of the forest if these trees do die out.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INVASIVE SPECIES HERE IN LONDON ONTARIO:
https://youtu.be/iJmtipTQBbc
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