Tennessee Hemlock Conservation Partnership

1. Tennessee Hemlock Conservation Partnership

2. Our Mission To preserve and conserve hemlocks on public lands, educate private property owners on hemlock woolly adelgid, and provide technical assistance in Tennessee.

3. Who is THCP? Our Partnership consists of different government and non-government agencies : • The Nature Conservancy • Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation • Tennessee Division of Forestry • National Park Service • Concerned Individuals

4. Why Were We Formed • Our Partnership was formed to combat the threat and spread of hemlock woolly adelgid • To formulate a strategy to control HWA and conserve areas of importance on Tennessee public lands • To educate the public about the impact of hemlock woolly adelgid and provide technical assistance • To establish open communication and cooperation between government and non-government agencies

5. What Has Been Accomplished So Far • In 2004, created the HWA Strategic and Management Plan for state lands in Tennessee • The process of establishing Hemlock Conservation Areas (HCAs), which will receive appropriate treatment to prevent or control HWA in those areas • Created GIS database for HCA stands on state lands in Tennessee

6. What Has Been Accomplished So Far, Continued • Created a HWA monitoring database for current and historical data collection • Conducted ongoing technical training workshops for participating partners on HWA identification and treatment • Provided continuing education to partners on current HWA research • Generated public awareness through press releases and other media outlets including websites such as: www.protecttnforests.org www.tnc.org/tennessee

7. How You or Others Can Contribute to the THCP • We need volunteers to treat hemlocks stands • Tax deductible donations can be accepted at: http://www.twrf.net/hemlock.cfm • Funding is Needed for the Following: • Buying supplies and chemical for HWA treatment • Contractors to treat hemlocks using approved pesticides • Raising predator beetles at the University of Tennessee for biological control of HWA • Continuing education on HWA impacts in Tennessee

8. Background History of HWA • Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) (Adelgestsugae) is a non-native insect pest that kills native eastern hemlock (Tsugacanadensis) • HWA was first discovered in Virginia in 1951 and as of 2012 has spread to 18 eastern states where it has significantly altered or reduced native hemlock populations

9. 2011 HWA Infested County & Hemlock Native Range Map

10. Background History of HWA in Tennessee • In Tennessee HWA was discovered in Sevier & Blount counties in 2002 and has since spread west to the Cumberland Plateau and Mountains • Much of the hemlock population in the Blue Ridge eco-region of our state has already been lost or is severely threatened by this pest • Since 2002, HWA has spread to 36 Tennessee counties

11. 2013 HWA Infested County Map

12. HWA Threats • HWA is the single greatest threat to hemlock health and sustainability in the eastern US and is comparable to Dutch Elm Disease and American Chestnut Blight in potential impacts • If left untreated, HWA can kill a hemlock tree within 3 to 7 years of infestation • Hemlock forests play a vital role in riparian areas as they prevent erosion on steep banks and provide shelter for wildlife by moderating temperatures in cold winter months and during hot summers days. HWA can potentially destroy these values and forever change the forest landscape

13. Why are Hemlocks Important to Tennessee?

14. Why Hemlocks are Important to Tennessee Aesthetic Value Economic Value Environmental Value Personal Value

15. How to Identify HWA Eggs Hatching Crawlers Adults on Hemlock Twig

16. Life Cycle of HWA

17. How Does HWA Spread?

18. HWA SpreadMethods Wind Birds and animals Transplant of trees from infested areas Purchasing infested nursery stock People

19. Most Visible Sign of HWA

20. Stages of Hemlock Decline Mortality Healthy Slight defoliation 7 3 Years

21. How Does HWA Kill Trees? • Nymphs and adults insert a stylet near the base of needles and feed on sap and nutrients • May inject a saliva into the tree to disrupt plant growth • Because there are no natural predators, they multiply rapidly • Sheer numbers feeding on a hemlock results in loss of vigor and eventual death (3 to 7years)

22. Methods Available to Treat HWA Soil Drench Soil Injection Stem Injection Foliage Spray or Basal Spray Soil Drench Method KioritzSoil Injector

23. Soil Drenching Pros: • Very easy to use • Versatile system • Lightweight • Can use both HWA chemical products for this system Cons: • Should not be used by trees next to a water source • Have to move back leaf and duff litter to expose roots to drench or create holes around base of trees • More room for chemical amount error • Should not be used on steep slopes

24. Soil Injection Pros: • Can be used by trees next to a water source • Can give an accurate amount of chemical to a tree • Can use both HWA chemical products for this system • Versatile system Cons: • Sometimes injector clogs up and must be cleaned • Injector equipment is more expensive to buy than soil drench • Hard to find KioritzSoil Injectors are no longer being produced but other soil injectors are becoming available • The injector needs maintenance NU-ARBOR 1-Two Root Injector KioritzSoil Injector

25. Stem Injection Pros: • Can be used by trees next to a water source • Can give a accurate amount of chemical to a tree • Less weight compared to a soil injection Cons: • Limited on the types of chemicals that can be used • Equipment costs more than other HWA treatment methods • Must drill holes in trees to apply chemical but newer systems are becoming less invasive • More time-consuming system compared to the other methods • The injection system needs maintenance • Creates wounds in the tree Arbor-Jet Stem Injector

26. BarkSpray Pros: • Good for treating moderate to heavy infestations • No drilling holes in trees to apply chemical Cons: • Cost for the chemical Safari is more compared to Imidacloprid • One batch per tree • Potential for drift • More potential for chemical exposure • Can only use Safari product in this system • Do not apply to wet bark, during rainfall or if rain is expected within 12 hours. D.B. Smith Contractor Series Sprayer

27. FoliageSpray Pros: • Good for treating foliage on small hemlocks • Good for treating light to moderate infestations • Can use both HWA chemical products in this system Cons: • Should not be used by trees next to a water source • The system is heavier compared to the other HWA treatment methods • More potential for chemical exposure • Foliar applications are best made in late spring or from July through September when the insect is not covered by protective wool Field King™ Backpack Sprayer

28. Biological Controls: Predator Beetles Pros: • Best chance for long-term control of HWA • Can be used on large inaccessible areas • Good for treating moderate to heavy HWA infestations • Three different species of beetles are being raised at UT Cons: • Expensive: beetles can cost between $2-$3 each & most areas require thousands of beetles for introduction • Only nearby rearing facility is the University of Tennessee and for public lands only • At this time, only one company in Pennsylvania is selling beetles for private landowners • Not good for treating light HWA infestation • Better used on smaller diameter hemlocks Predator beetle preying upon HWA Photo by UT Dept. Ent. and Plant Path.

29. Treating Light Infestation • Full foliage, good green color in needles • Products-Imidacloprid, • Methods-Soil injection, soil drench, stem injection and foliage spray • Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round depending on weather and soil conditions

30. Treating Moderate Infestation • Thinning foliage, poorer color, needles starting to drop • Products-Imidacloprid, and Safari • Methods-Soil injection, soil drench or stem injection(imidacloprid only), foliage and bark spray(Safari) • Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round, depending on weather and soil condition

31. Treating Heavy Infestation • Foliage very thin or missing in places, gray green, die back is staring or occurring • Products-Imidacloprid, Safari • Methods-Soil injection, soil drench, stem injection(Imidacloprid) and bark spray (Safari) • Best time to treat-Spring and Fall but can be done year-round, depending on weather and soil condition

32. Equipment Cost of Each Method Soil Drench • Between $7.95-$8.18 • (One 5 gallon jug or one 48 ounce Nalgene) Stem Injection • Between $394-$400 (Hypo-Hatchet® Tree Injector or Arbor-Jet Quick Jet) Other systems cost up to $1,500 or more Soil Injector • Between $495-$1,700 (NU-ARBOR 1-Two Root Injector or HTI Soil Injector) Foliage/Bark Spray • Between $38.75-$67.95 (D.B. Smith Contractor Series Sprayer or 4-Gallon Capacity Field King™ Backpack Sprayer) *Please note prices will vary with sales tax, shipping cost local availability and any extra accessories you may need to buy

33. Chemical Information Imidacloprid: • Used in any treatment method except bark spray • For light to moderate infestation • Treatment life is between 3-5 years, depending on tree • Could affect honey bees and aquatic invertebrates • Must be kept out of direct sunlight • Can not be used in bark spray Safari (dinotefuran): • Used in any treatment method except stem injection • For moderate to heavy infestations • Do not apply directly to water, or to areas where surface water is present or to areas below the mean high water mark • For trees in forests that are pollinated by bees or other invertebrates, make applications post-bloom • Treatment life is between 1-3 years, depending on tree • Could affect shrimp and aquatic invertebrates *Please be sure to read and follow all label instructions when using any pesticides.

34. Cost Comparison of Chemicals

35. Cost Comparison of Chemicals

36. Steps for Private Landowners Treating HWA Determine your goals and objectives for your forest as well as for your hemlocks. Treating your hemlocks should be a long term commitment that may involve multiple treatments. Developing a comprehensive forestry management plan is highly encouraged 1. Inspect trees to determine level of HWA infestation present: none, light, moderate or heavy. 2. Assess site conditions 3. Overall tactic 4. Collect tree data 5. Types of treatment and options for labor 6. Types of chemical for treatment 7. Chemical treatment methods

37. Steps for Private Landowners Treating HWA 8. Mixing rates 9. Estimate cost of treatment 10. Combine Tree Data and the Cost of Chemical *NOTE: It is the user's responsibility to read and follow all label instructions when using any pesticide materials.

38. For more information or technical assistance for landowners, please contact: Douglas Godbee 865.318.1371 Douglas.Godbee@tn.gov or visit www.protecttnforests.org