Hemlock woolly adelgid becomes active again in late fall in the Laurel Highlands, and the small white woolly masses it produces are easiest to spot on hemlocks from now through early spring.
The insect stays dormant through the summer, then resumes feeding as temperatures cool, settling at the base of hemlock needles and covering itself in a white, cottony coating. Look on the undersides of the outer branches, where the needles attach to the twig. Infested trees gradually lose color, drop needles, and stop putting on new growth, and untreated hemlocks often decline over several years. Winter is a practical time to check.
Eastern hemlock is Pennsylvania's state tree, and many properties in Somerset and Cambria counties have hemlocks along streams, ridges, and property lines. When the adelgid is caught early, infested trees can often be protected with treatment, and our ISA Certified Arborists monitor and manage this pest across Southwest Pennsylvania.
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Close-up photo of white woolly adelgid masses on the underside of a hemlock branch from a local property, or an arborist inspecting a hemlock. Authentic local STS job photos strongly preferred over stock.
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