Balsam Woolly Adelgid Management Options

Mechanical Control

• Only cut and remove infested trees when adelgids are not active (December-February). 
• Cut and remove infested trees as close to the ground as possible.
• Grind and remove stump.
• Chip all materials.  

Chemical Control 

Be judicious in your use of pesticides to control balsam woolly adelgid. Because of the nature of balsam woolly adelgid, pesticide applications are not guaranteed to be 100% effective. Insecticides can decrease populations and limit the amount of damage done to the tree, but they will often require repeat applications to keep adelgids at low populations and may not fully eradicate the pests from the tree. Any pesticide application for balsam woolly adelgid is best suited for individual, high-value, ornamental trees. Many products are available that can be used to treat trees for balsam woolly adelgid. The table below lists some active ingredients and example products.

Applications for balsam woolly adelgid typically fall into one of two categories:

1) Products that are applied to the tree and work against the pest when the pest contacts the product.

Thorough coverage is key to application success. Treat trunks and limbs of the tree with a high-pressure sprayer when crawler stage BWA are active. Monitor for crawlers in late spring/early summer and again in fall and time treatments based on monitoring. For products with shorter residual in the environment, timing the application is very important and routine monitoring is key.

2) Systemic products that are taken up by the tree and act against the pest when the pest feeds on them.

We have limited information on the effectiveness of systemic insecticides against balsam woolly adelgid. Related insects tend to be very susceptible to these products; however, balsam woolly adelgid feeds on a very different part of the tree than most other target pests, and the feeding they do may actually inhibit the tree’s ability to move a systemic product. If systemic products are used, they may be most effective on very light, very early infestations or as preventive measures on uninfested trees. Systemic products can be applied in several ways. Some products are applied to the root zone of the tree either by drenching the soil or injecting the product into the soil and are designed to be taken up by the tree’s roots. Some products are designed to be sprayed onto the lower portion of the trunk and absorbed into the tree’s vascular system and moved to other parts of the tree. The rate of application of a product is typically based on tree size and will be listed on the product label.

For any pesticide application, take the time to understand the products and applications in order to make the best decisions for your tree(s) and your property. For specific questions about products or questions about treatments on your tree(s) or property, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service office. 

Balsam Woolly Adelgid Control: Active ingredients, Application type/s, and Example products*

• Insecticidal soap (potassium salts of fatty acids), Application type: spray, Example product: M-Pede
• Dinotefuran, Application types: trunk spray, soil injection, soil drench, Example products: Safari, Zylam
• Esfenvalerate, Application type: spray, Example product: Onslaught
• Carbaryl, Application type: spray, Example product: Sevin SL
• Permethrin, Application type: spray, Example product: Astro
• Bifenthrin, Application type: spray, Example product: Talstar

Some products may be labeled as Restricted Use Pesticides and only available to certified pesticide applicators.

*Trade names listed here are meant as examples of products containing the specific active ingredient. Presence in this list is not an endorsement of the product; absence from the list does not indicate unavailability or ineffectiveness of a product.

For any pesticide application, follow all label recommendations for use rate and application. Remember, the label is the law!

Content prepared by Elizabeth Graham (elizabeth.e.graham@usda.gov) and Jessie Moan (mary.moan@usda.gov).

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