Assessment of Sasajiscymnus tsugae, Scymnus sinuanodulus, and Laricobius nigrinus

Abstract

Eastern hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, and Carolina hemlock, Tsuga caroliniana, are being threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae. Adelges tsugae, is currently found throughout most of the range of T. canadensis and the entire range of T. caroliniana and arrived in Georgia in 2003. In an attempt to preserve the hemlocks, biological control predatory beetles Sasajiscymnus tsugae, Laricobius nigrinus, and Scymnus sinuanodulus are being mass reared and released. The objectives considered in this research are to: 1. Determine establishment of these biological control agents in the North Georgia mountains. 2. To determine aestivation survival and time of emergence of L. nigrinus.