Observation of key phenological stages of hemlock woolly adelgid (Hemiptera: Adelgidae): using citizen science as a tool to inform research and management.

Abstract

Increasing efficiency of data gathering at the landscape scale on the growing number of pests and pathogens threatening forests worldwide has potential to improve management outcomes. Citizen science is expanding, with growing support and utility in environmental and conservation fields. We present a case study showing how citizen science observations can be used to inform research and management of a devastating forest pest. Hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelges tsugae Annand (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), was introduced to eastern North America, leading to decline and mortality of eastern [Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière] (Pinales: Pinaceae)and Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana Engelmann)trees. Management activities, most notably biological control, rely on observations of A. tsugae phenology to inform the timing of releases and monitoring surveys of their highly synchronized specialist predators. In this article, we outline a citizen science program and report phenological observations on A. tsugae. Additionally, we report data comparing A. tsugae estivation break in Virginia (VA) and New York (NY) State, revealing that estivation break is synchronized between NY and VA. This observation is supported by 6 years of citizen scientist observations, showing similar patterns throughout NY, with egg laying shown to be much more variable than estivation break.