Dr. Carole Cheah of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station will be presenting her work on combating the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA), a serious non-native pest of Eastern Hemlocks, using a ladybeetle which feeds specifically on HWA, for biological control. Control of HWA is important because they can eventually kill infested hemlocks that play important ecological roles such as helping to maintain cool water temperatures needed for aquatic life in nearby water bodies.
Dr. Cheah has been a leader in HWA control for over 25 years. Recent grants from the Farmington River's two Wild and Scenic Committees, the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee and the upper river's Farmington River Coordinating Committee, have supported her local control efforts that will be the emphasis of Dr. Cheah's presentation. Dr. Cheah also obtained cooperation from several towns, land trusts, wildlife management areas, the MDC, and the CT DEEP for access to land and releases of ladybeetles.