[NatureNS] Fwd: Hemlock tree-destroying pest arrives in Nova Scotia

From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Thu, 09 Nov 2017 18:55:27 -0400
References: <5A044898.16731.98B65896@jmeaton.ns.sympatico.ca>
Cc: David & Alison Webster <dwebster@glinx.com>,
To: naturens <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>,
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THANKS, JANET, from Jim et al.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Janet M Eaton <jmeaton@ns.sympatico.ca>
> Subject: Hemlock tree-destroying pest arrives in Nova Scotia
> Date: November 9, 2017 at 8:22:48 AM AST
> To: ENVLOC@eastlink.ca
>=20
> =
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hemlock-tree-woolly-adelgid-pest=
-nova-scotia-1.4392723
>=20
> Hemlock tree-destroying pest arrives in Nova Scotia
>=20
> Hemlock woolly adelgid has been found in 5 Nova Scotia counties
> By Cassie Williams, CBC News Posted: Nov 08, 2017 12:35 PM AT Last =
Updated: Nov 08, 2017 12:59 PM AT
>=20
> The hemlock woolly adelgid appears as white, woolly sacks on the base =
of needles of the hemlock tree. (CFIA)
>=20
> A hemlock tree-destroying pest has turned up in Nova Scotia and don't =
count on frosty temperatures to kill the tiny beasts.
>=20
> The hemlock woolly adelgid attacks eastern hemlock trees by feeding on =
the nutrient and water storage cells at the base of the trees' needles, =
killing them.
>=20
> Ron Neville, a plant health survey biologist with the Canadian Food =
Inspection Agency, is investigating how far the pests have spread =
throughout the province since they were first detected here in mid-July.
>=20
> So far, the hemlock woolly adelgid =97 or HWA =97 has been found in =
five counties: Digby, Yarmouth and Shelburne and a few sites in =
Annapolis and Queens.
>=20
> "In Digby and Yarmouth County, it's fairly widespread and less so in =
Annapolis and Queens," Neville told CBC's Information Morning.
>=20
> 'It looks like a small cotton ball'
>=20
> The eastern hemlock grows from Ontario east to the Maritimes, often on =
the shores of lakes and rivers.
>=20
> "Loss of hemlock trees can have a potential, major ecological impact. =
Hemlock in many forests serves as a foundation tree in the environment =
so what that means is that other species that live in those areas depend =
on hemlock for their existence," said Neville.
>=20
> The tiny insect, less than 1.5 millimetres long, produces a wool-like =
wax to protect its eggs, which are usually deposited on the underside of =
hemlock needles at the tips of the branches.
>=20
> hemlock woolly adelgid
> The hemlock woolly adelgid can spread on the wind or by birds or =
animals. They often hitch rides on nursery stock and wood products like =
firewood. (CFIA)
>=20
> "It's very tiny, it looks like a small cotton ball. And those develop =
over the winter and they're most obvious, basically, from January =
through to June," said Neville.
>=20
> The pests are native to Asia and Neville said it's believed they first =
arrived in North America in the 1950s in the state of Virginia, =
spreading across the northeastern U.S.
>=20
> Able to adapt to cold climates
>=20
> The CFIA already has rules demanding that hemlock seedlings or wood =
products being imported to Canada must have a certificate showing they =
are free of the pest. The insects often hitch a ride on nursery stock =
and wood products like firewood.
>=20
> They can also be transported by birds, animals and even on the wind.
>=20
> Hemlock trees under threat by invasive pest, the woolly adelgid
> The hemlock pest also very adaptable, able to survive cold winters as =
well as warm ones, according to Natural Resources Canada.
>=20
> In terms of what to do about the pests, Neville said the CFIA is =
looking at what our neighbours to the south have done.
>=20
> One option is to just remove affected trees but that could have a =
devastating effect on forests.
>=20
> Hemlock
> As its name implies, the aphid-like hemlock woolly adelgid attacks =
eastern hemlock trees. (CFIA)
>=20
> In parts of the U.S., forestry officials have attempted to control the =
spread using biological controls including importing lady beetles from =
Asia to eat HWAs. However, Neville cautions that introducing a new =
species into an ecosystem can bring about a whole new set of problems.
>=20
> "We have to consider the implications of bringing in a predator pest," =
he said.
>=20
> If you think you have an HWA infestation, check with the Canadian Food =
Inspection Agency or call 1-800-442-2342.
>=20
> With files from Information Morning


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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html =
charset=3Dwindows-1252"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space;">THANKS, JANET, from Jim et =
al.<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, =
0, 0, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span =
style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';">Janet M Eaton &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jmeaton@ns.sympatico.ca">jmeaton@ns.sympatico.ca</a>&gt;<br=
></span></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span =
style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Subject: =
</b></span><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';"><b>Hemlock =
tree-destroying pest arrives in Nova Scotia</b><br></span></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px;"><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, =
0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span =
style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';">November 9, 2017 at 8:22:48 AM =
AST<br></span></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span =
style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica'; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>To: =
</b></span><span style=3D"font-family:'Helvetica';"><a =
href=3D"mailto:ENVLOC@eastlink.ca">ENVLOC@eastlink.ca</a><br></span></div>=
<br><div>

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<div>
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href=3D"http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/hemlock-tree-woolly-adel=
gid-pest-nova-scotia-1.4392723">http://www