The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is working with the state's horticulture industry to detect and respond to invasive balsam woolly adelgid, a tiny, sap-feeding insect that attacks true fir trees, including balsam, Fraser and concolor (white) fir.
Balsam woolly adelgid has been identified in Kent, Missaukee, and Oceana counties. The site in Kent County was treated and monitoring is ongoing. MDARD is currently working with partner agencies to survey the areas surrounding the populations in Missaukee and Oceana counties.
"An educated, vigilant horticulture industry is Michigan s first line of defense against the spread of invasive species," said Mike Philip, Director of MDARD's Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. "Early detection and response are critical to protecting Michigan s natural resources and horticulture businesses."
Nearly 1.9 million balsam fir trees populate Michigan's forests in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula. Fraser and concolor fir trees are not native to Michigan but are often planted on landscapes.
Symptoms of balsam woolly adelgid infestation include:
Tiny one-to-two-millimeter white woolly tufts on the lower trunk of the tree and possibly on large branches in the spring and summer.
Source: michigan.gov
Photo Credit: gettyimages-romaset
Categories: Michigan, Crops