Surveying Eastern Hemlocks in the Northwestern Portion of Port Sheldon Natural Area for Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, HWA) is an insect native to Asia that feeds on the starches of hemlock trees (Tsuga spp.). HWA is invasive to the Eastern United States and can kill Eastern hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis). Eastern hemlock is the only hemlock species native to Michigan. As of 2019, the invasion of HWA in Michigan is concentrated in the western portion of the lower peninsula. Monitoring is important to determine the extent of HWA within the state and to establish infested areas in need of treatment. This purpose of this project was to do a 100 percent survey for HWA in the northwestern portion of Port Sheldon Natural Area, located in Ottawa County, Michigan. No evidence of HWA was found in the study area