Go get 'em silver flies!

We are busy this spring releasing our new biological control agent, the silver fly.

Do you remember that hemlock woolly adelgid has 2 generations each year? Our best predators so far all feed on the fall/winter generation.  So, unless all the adelgid are eaten or die, come spring time a whole new generation emerges to feed and reproduce.  We are hopeful that theses silver flies will put a real hurtin' on that spring generation so we can reduce adelgid levels and relieve the pest pressure on our hemlock trees year round.

A very special thank you to Mr. Darrel Ross at Oregon State University and Mr. Mark Whitmore at Cornell University who have tirelessly worked to collect flies in their native habitat, rear them in the lab, and ship them to us.  As you can see, theses flies are small and fast.  We could not do any of this work without such great cooperators!

Spring means...crawlers

This is the time of year when the progrediens generation of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is out in full force crawling out of their white, woolly ovisacs and looking for a place to settle at the base of a nice green hemlock needle.

HWA crawlers on a hemlock twig, photo taken through a hand lens. 

 Can you see them?  They are all lined up trying to find a place to settle in and feed. 

HWA ovisacs and crawlers on hemlock twig, photo taken through a hand lens.

You can see the sheer numbers of HWA our hemlock trees have to deal with.  We are out this week setting up another round of experiments with silver flies,  an adelgid predator that has shown some promise.  Well, we found the buffet, I hope these flies are hungry!

Winter won't wait...

In the Northern Hemisphere, winter officially starts at the same time every year.  In 2017 it was on a Thursday, December 21st, the shortest day of the year.  The Winter Solstice.  And winter has swept into the Southeastern U.S. with some teeth this year. 

Exhibit A...

The first snow of winter came early in December and gave The Carolinas lots of unexpected snow and cold temperatures.

 

Exhibit B...

Local forecasters did not anticipate this winter storm that caused havoc on New Year's Eve in Asheville, NC.

As these storms and frigid temperatures continue to effect our day to day lives you can take some solace in the fact that hemlock woolly adelgid has it worse than you. 

Snowflakes settle on HWA ovisacs during a blustery morning snow event in Asheville, NC.

Hemlock woolly adelgid does not tolerate temperatures below freezing very well.  The colder our winter gets and the longer it lasts will help our native hemlock trees.  That sure does warm me up...a little...this certainly is hopeful for our beloved hemlock trees.

A target hemlock tree we recently released in the Jefferson NF in VA.

So, be courageous, keep warm, and stay safe through this bitter start to winter.