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What do you know about Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA)? Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is an invasive, aphid-like insect that threatens Eastern Hemlock trees across North America -- even here in Nova Scotia. For such a small species, HWA has a huge impact! Feeding on the Hemlock tree’s critical nutrient stores, it causes defoliation that can kill mature trees in four to ten years. Hemlocks are important for several reasons: their dense, evergreen branches create wildlife habitat, their roots stabilize riverbanks, and their trunks act as carbon stores. They also shade brooks and rivers, creating cool-water environments that salmon rely on. Without the threat of HWA, Hemlocks could live for centuries. The tiny insects originated in Japan and were first reported in North America in Virginia in 1951. Moving north from there, HWA was first spotted in Nova Scotia’s Yarmouth County in 2017. It has been recorded in Shelburne, Digby, Annapolis, and Queens counties. It spreads naturally by wind and bird movement, but also by human activity, like moving infected firewood, logs, and nursery stock. Hemlocks of all sizes can be impacted, and associated mortality is extensive. The Nature Trust is currently working with the province and several other partners to address the threat of HWA. Visit nshemlock.ca for more information on the status of HWA in Nova Scotia, and stay tuned for our upcoming HWA info sessions you can attend in the coming months! |
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