I was relieved a few days ago not to see signs of the “Hemlock Vampire” on this hemlock in Halifax Co., but will keep on looking.
Received from MTRI today: “We will be hosting 2 workshops on identifying Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on December 8th at MTRI, and on December 15th at Bear River! Join us if you are interested in learning how to identify this invasive species, especially if you have hemlock that could be at risk on your property!
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid. “Their name comes from waxy white filaments they make to protect themselves from drying out. In a heavy infestation, hemlock trees can look gray from all the “wool” on twigs and branches. They can’t fly, but are spread by wind and also hitch rides on the feet of birds, which can carry hemlock wooly adelgids for long distances. These “hemlock vampires” were first discovered in 1951 in Virginia, and by 2005 had spread to fifteen other states. Source: Paul Hetzler, Cornell Cooperative Extension Photo source: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Bugwood.org