Under Seige



The Hemlock trees in the Great Smoky Mountains are under siege by Hemlock Woolly Adelgids.  Also, the fir & spruce trees are also being attacked by Balsam Woolly Adelgids.  
Every 6 months-1 year, the trees are sprayed in an attempt to get these bugs under control.  In 2002, the Park began releasing beetles as a means of controlling the outbreak of the Hemlock variety.
Smokiesinformation.org estimates that approximately 70% of the fir trees in the Park have been killed by the Balsam variety.  The hope is that a fir tree that is susceptible to the adelgid will be found to replenish what has been lost.

4 comments:

  1. Oh no! I never thought I'd feel sorry for trees - but I do now. :( I hope they find a way to save all the trees.

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  2. All the trees at all the National Parks seem to be under seige of some bug or disease. It is so sad to see old trees die.

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