Hemlock Protection Fund

FLT shares community concerns about Eastern Hemlock trees and the impacts of the invasive Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (pictured above on a hemlock branch). We participate in a biocontrol solution and now have a Hemlock Protection Fund which allows interested homeowners to join us in this effort for a fee. FLT annually purchases St beetles, tiny predatory insects which prey exclusively on the adelgid, and releases them onto hemlocks. One colony (pictured above in their shipping container) covers three adjacent hemlocks. Please note that the cost associated with beetle colonies purchased for your private property is not considered a charitable contribution for tax purposes. Read the steps below to learn more about the timeline and process for the purchase and release of beetles.

How this works:

1. Interested landowners should complete this order form by December 31st. All orders will be grouped and placed in early January to ensure a bulk purchase discount.

2. Beetles will be delivered to the FLT office sometime in May or June. FLT staff will email all participants to let them know about the beetle arrival and coming release.

3. FLT staff will then release the beetles on participating homeowner properties. By completing the form and allowing FLT to purchase beetles, you also allow FLT staff to enter your property to release the beetles during daylight hours. This will allow for a more efficient release process.

4. The release involves using a clothespin to clip the nesting material to the infected hemlocks to allow the beetles to crawl out over time (see above right photo). Property owners can then remove the clothespin and nesting material after a few days. Please don’t remove it the first day!

Disclaimer: as with any biocontrol solution, we cannot guarantee that your Hemlock trees will be free of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid after the beetle release.

Click here to learn more Hemlock Wooly Adelgid in Maine.