Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Also known as HWA, Hemlock Adelgid

Hemlock woolly adelgids spend most of their lives attached to the base of hemlock needles, secreting a dense, white waxy coat that resembles miniature cotton swabs. By inserting needle-like mouthparts directly into twig tissue, these tiny insects drain vital nutrients and disrupt water flow, causing needle loss, branch dieback, and eventual tree death within a few years. While natural predators keep populations in check across East Asia and western North America, unrestrained outbreaks in the eastern United States continue to reshape entire forest ecosystems.