Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment and Facts

The Facts About Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment

What is the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid?

hemolock trees against clear blue skyThe hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) is a tiny aphid-like insect native to Asia. As its name suggests, the hemlock woolly adelgid feeds on hemlock trees, specifically the Carolina and Eastern hemlock. It has been found throughout the eastern United States.

This insect is barely visible to the naked eye, and its egg sacs are covered with a waxy, white “wool.” The sacs, most prominent in late spring, look like the tips of small cotton swabs clinging to the base of hemlock needles.

A tree infested with the hemlock woolly adelgid can die within a few years. This serious pest has destroyed thousands of acres of trees.


hemlock woolly adelgid width=The Problem

The hemlock woolly adelgid feeds on the sap at the base of the host tree’s needles. This disrupts the flow of nutrients, slows growth and causes the tree’s dark green needles to discolor and turn grayish green, eventually falling off. Lack of nutrients causes the tree to starve to death, usually within three to ten years.  It is quickest in areas where there are other pests, diseases or environmental stressors present.

Signs of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation

  • The appearance of cotton tuft-like masses mostly on the underside of the foliage at the base of the hemlock’s needles
  • Needles that change from deep green to grayish green
  • Premature needle drop
  • Twig dieback
  • Thinning in the crown

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Treatment Options


closeup of hemlock woolly adelgid infestationIf you have hemlocks on your property, or you suspect that your trees are already infested, hemlock woolly adelgid, control methods should be applied immediately. With our curative and preventive treatments, your trees can be protected and saved!

Another way to help your hemlocks’ survival is by maintaining the general health of your trees through proper pruning. A strong and vigorous tree is better able to naturally resist a hemlock woolly adelgid infestation. With SavATree’s professional tree service and disease treatments, there is no reason to lose your precious trees to this destructive pest.

For more information on hemlock woolly adelgid control and treatment, contact us today for a complimentary consultation from our fully trained and certified arborists. Don’t let a hemlock woolly adelgid infestation devastate your landscape. Save your trees and click here to find the office nearest you.