Forest Pest Early Detection Training 2/23
Have you heard about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) and Asian Long-horned Beetle (ALB)? Would you like to know more about these invasive forest pests that have been found within the state and local region? Come join the WNY PRISM and the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI) for an informational forest pest early detection training from 12:30PM-4:30PM on Monday, February 23. Topics covered will include the impacts of each forest pest as well as how to identify each invasive insect, signs and symptoms of an infestation and what to do if you find any of...
Read MoreCollaborative Forest Pest Project Update
They always say, pictures are worth 1,000 words. And in most cases I would agree with that. There is always an interesting story behind each photograph we take or view. Photographs can capture a joyous or disheartening scene, appeal to our emotions or bring our attention to someone or something in need. This past weekend, as a part of our joint Forest Pest Outreach Project with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County, Betsy Burgeson, my husband Tyler and I all got out to North Harmony State Forest to erect signs on Eastern Hemlock trees along the main snowmobile trail and cross...
Read MoreHWA Surveys Begin
With the recent news of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) reaching Chautauqua County, Tina and I began our surveys last Friday starting with one of the hemlock stands along the trails here at RTPI. We bundled up and spent a couple hours combing through the hemlock branches we could reach and are happy to report that we didn’t find any HWA within this particular cluster of trees. As the winter continues, we will continue to survey around our trails and will soon join our efforts with JCC students to survey the college’s woodlot as well. We are keeping our fingers crossed that we...
Read MoreHWA Here to Stay?
It’s official friends, HWA has been found in Chautauqua County. Over the holidays, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) was encountered on a number of Eastern Hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) near Fredonia. These trees exhibited the signs and symptoms of the invasive insect’s presence, having twigs covered in white woolly masses and dying needles, discolored due to loss of nutrients. Due to its small size and discrete nature, HWA can easily go undetected until it is too late, and death of the attacked hemlock is inevitable. However, it CAN be stopped and we CAN help the hemlocks...
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