Important Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Update: December 2024

Posted byGwen AlegrePosted inWoodlandsTags:, , , , , , ,

What You Need to Know

  1. HWA is now widespread: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is now affecting many trees across Craneridge. Untreated trees die within 4–10 years. Most of these trees have early infestations and can be targeted for treatment in the spring and fall in 2025 and beyond. However, the numbers we are now dealing with will require further prioritization and planning.
  2. Treatment limits: We’ll continue treatment of Hemlocks larger than 10” in diameter in Spring 2025. Based on limits set by NYS and the EPA, only 14–16 trees per acre can be treated annually. Treatment lasts 5-7 years.
  3. Partnerships in action: Collaboration with local experts and initiatives, like Laricobius beetle releases, will aid control efforts but will take several years to impact HWA.
  4. Community role: Residents can report HWA (SUBMIT THIS FORM), join HWA ID sessions, or volunteer as knowledge-keepers to support ongoing efforts.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is now widespread across western New York and New York State. Learn more about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid here

What We are Doing:

  1. We have a strong partnership with HWA expert Joshua Konovitz from Ecos Cooperative. Joshua is also our Erie County Parks forester.
  2. To date, we have treated approximately 150 Hemlocks throughout Craneridge. We carefully record all treated Hemlocks with location and date, so we can monitor success and re-treat, if needed, in 5-7 years.
  3. Through our connection with Cornell’s Hemlock Initiative, Sprague Brook Park benefited from a bio-control release of 1000 Laricobius beetles (they love to eat HWA) in October. Our hope is that they move into Craneridge in the years to come.
  4. We have the beginnings of a Craneridge tree nursery starting from seed, and within a few years, we plan to have hundreds of native tree and shrub seedlings to replace smaller Hemlocks that are not treated.

What You Can Do:

  1. If you find HWA on your property, Submit this form. We’ll come onsite to assess your trees and tag for potential treatment.
  2. Attend scheduled Hemlock Woolly Adelgid hunter sessions, which will be upcoming in January.
  3. If you are interested in becoming an HWA knowledge-keeper and are willing to meet with neighbors to share basic information about HWA and treatment, please contact Gwen at gwenalegre@gmail.com. A BIG thank you to Matt Gregory and Bill Rugg who have stepped into this volunteer role in 2024.
  4. Please be patient. With the Craneridge BOD’s full support, we are doing the absolute best we can for our Hemlocks. Sadly, we won’t be able to save them all.
  5. Looking toward the future, this is the best chance we’ll ever have to diversify our unique wooded habitat, which is critical for healthy forests.

Questions? Concerns?

Should you have questions or concerns, please contact Gwen Alegre at gwenalegre@gmail.com or Sam Lewandowski at slewandowski92@gmail.com.