Where did HWA originate?  

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an invasive forest pest that poses a serious threat to hemlock trees in the eastern United States’ forest ecosystem.  HWA is a native species of Asia,  populations plaguing the Eastern U.S. originated in southern Japan.  As an invasive species, HWA thrives in the U.S. with the lack of native enemies to keep HWA populations in check.  

What is HWA’s impact on hemlocks?  

In the eastern U.S. HWA attacks both eastern hemlock and Carolina hemlock.  Hemlock woolly adelgid is a sap sucking insect that feeds on the tender shoots of hemlocks, typically contributing to the death of the tree over time.  HWA causes hemlocks to shed needles and interferes with new growth of the tree.  An untreated hemlock infested with HWA is progressively weakened and opened up to invasion by other forest pests and disease, typically leading to mortality. 

Are my hemlocks infested with HWA?

The primary indicator of HWA can be seen on the underside of hemlock branches where the needle attaches to the stem.  This is where the egg sacs are located, often compared to tufts of cotton and more evident from late fall to early summer. Hemlocks suffering from HWA generally appear thin and light green in color compared to healthy hemlocks that display branches thick with dark green needles.

What can Precision Forestry Protection
do to treat for HWA?   

Precision Forestry Protection provides treatment of hemlock trees for private, state, and federal entities.  Our well trained technicians use the most up to date and calibrated equipment to treat hemlocks one tree at a time, in a forest or urban setting.  Particularly in an urban area, it is cheaper to save a hemlock with treatment than it is to pay someone to remove a dead tree.  Treatments will primarily be via soil injection and each tree will be tagged.  Buffer zones will be established near water to avoid the possibility of runoff by prohibiting soil injection methods.  PFP will treat your trees within the buffer zone via stem injection.  With this procedure the treatment is injected directly into the trunk of the tree with no threat of runoff, allowing PFP to help you protect as many trees as possible while protecting the environment.  Billing will be based on soil or stem injection treatments of an established cost per dbh (diameter at breast height) inch with a maximum of 256 dbh inches per acre per year.  Because of the dbh per acre restriction, a 3-year contract may be established to treat all trees needed on the property.  Also a maintenance contract can be provided to continue the monitoring and retreatment of trees on an as needed basis over the remaining contracted period.  Please call Precision Forestry Protection with any questions at 304-641-7373 and let us help you protect your trees.