Open AccessEfficacy of Aborjet Viper Microinjections in the Management of Hemlock Woolly Adelgids with Arborjet
Author(s) -
Joseph J. Doccola,
Peter Wild,
Ilangovan Ramasamy,
Paulina Castillo,
C.H. Taylor
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
arboriculture and urban forestry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 2155-0778
pISSN - 1935-5297
DOI - 10.48044/jauf.2003.040
Subject(s) - viper , tsuga , biology , imidacloprid , zoology , ecology , pesticide , venom
Hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand) is an introduced homopteran that infests native eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis Carriere). It results in reduced tree vitality and, when untreated, death. A state-of-the-art microinjection device employing an air-over-hydraulic system was used to deliver a therapeutic dosage of imidacloprid into the active xylem tissues of affected hemlocks. Bioassays were conducted microscopically to determine HWA mortality post-treatment. Injected trees had significantly (p < 0.05) lower HWA populations compared to untreated controls; mean mortality for injected trees was over twice that of noninjected trees. The Arborjet VIPER system shows promise as a management tool in the treatment of HWA.