Most residents of northern Michigan are familiar with   emerald ash borer   – an invasive insect that arrived in our state, resulting in the widespread die-off of millions of ash trees. Forests once full of this large, native tree are now stocked with dead snags and state-wide quarantines are still in place preventing the spread of wood material from one place to another. Unfortunately, another invasive species is knocking at our front door, this time targeting a critical habitat species – our hemlocks. The  photos emerging  from the Appalachian Mountains are stunning. Entire swaths of forest appear to be brown as dense hemlock stands become fatalities to the  hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) . Originally from Asia, but now established in the eastern U.S. and moving west, this aphid-like insect can be hard to spot, but they situate themselves at the base of hemlock needles and feed off the trees’ nutrient supply, eventually resulting in mortality. Luckily, unlike with Michigan’s ash trees, this mortality is more gradual – often taking five to ten years. This allows natural resource professionals to work toward saving this crucial hemlock resource. 
 
The Northwest Michigan Invasive Species Network (ISN), operating with funds from the  Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program   (via  The Nature Conservancy ) has been working to stay ahead of HWA since last fall (2018). With populations of HWA identified in Oceana County, just south of ISN’s service area, it is critical to tackle this issue head-on. Any invasive insect can have devastating outcomes, but hemlock is a particularly special component of northern Michigan’s forest ecosystem. They provide essential habitat for many forms of wildlife and because of where they tend to grow (i.e. along rivers), they offer shade that is crucial to the health of our fisheries.
 
In 2018, ISN and regional partners, using guidelines set by the State of Michigan HWA task force, worked together to establish a map that narrowed down areas that were expected to be denser with hemlock – following the current trajectory of HWA movement in Michigan. Winter surveys took place to minimize any potential spread of the invasive and because it is easier to locate the woolly mass of HWA ovisacs underneath hemlock needles. ISN’s focus was on easier-to-access locations such as public land and conservation easements.  This next winter, however, ISN hopes to survey primarily private land but with that goal, your help is needed! If your home or land falls within the listed parameters, you are encouraged to complete a landowner survey! Homeowner Associations are also encouraged to participate.

If you have questions, please contact ISN’s Invasive Species Specialist, Audrey Menninga –
(231)941-0960 x18 or email  amenninga@gtcd.org .