Pictured is part of a damaged Hemlock tree.

On Saturday at 11 a.m., the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy will be conducting a survey in search of the invasive insect Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) at its Browns Creek Preserve, located at 5040 Walker Road in Bemus Point. The public is welcome to join in the survey, with on-site training provided for those who need it. Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy has been conducting HWA surveys on their preserves and other local hemlock stands for over a decade, and their yearly surveys for 2025 have begun. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid is a very small insect that feeds on Hemlock trees, ultimately killing the infected trees. The invasive adelgids are transferred from tree to tree most often by birds, but other modes of transmission are possible as well. Once the adelgids land on the host tree, they will remain in the same spot for the rest of their lives, continually feeding and developing into adults. Their feeding severely damages the canopy of the host tree by disrupting the flow of nutrients to its twigs and needles. The infected tree usually succumbs in four to ten years. In winter, the insects form cotton-like protective balls at the bases of the needles making it easy to observe and diagnose. HWA is moving into our area very quickly. Surveying Hemlocks and reporting any HWA observed on them can help with the implementation of targeted treatment plans to manage the infestations and prevent further spread.