Hemlock wooly adelged update
By DR. PAUL ARNOLD Sentinel Guest Writer

This is the seventh (and last) of our monthly updates on the progress of Sasajiscymnus beetle production in the Young Harris College Beetle Laboratory for the year 2007. [This beetle is being raised to combat the wooly adelged that is killing hemlocks along the east coast and Appalachian Mountains.]

Between May 28 and June 28, 2007 we have received 7 donations from individuals, corporations & foundations totaling $3820. We greatly appreciate the tremendous support that many people have given us! In addition to the monetary donations, four individuals (3 community people, 1 student) have donated a total of 33 hours of labor. A hearty thanks to these die-hard volunteers!

Between May 28 & June 28, 2007 a total of $435 was expended. These included additional construction/repair costs as well as wages for student workers during this time period. As of June 28, 2007, we have a balance of $41,659 in our Hemlock Project restricted account. This money will go a long way in paying for the remaining construction costs, including our new water distiller, as well as wages for future workers!

In 2007, 38 adult beetle & egg releases have been performed in Towns, Union, Fannin, Lumpkin & White counties, a total of approximately 49,000 adult beetles & 20,576 beetle eggs. The locations of these releases are:

#1 - 16 February 2007 - Slaughter Creek (HCA #71 - Union County) - 1278 adult beetles; #2 - 21 February 2007 - Bower's Cove (HCA #62 - Union County) - 1475 adult beetles; #3 - 27 February 2007 - Tigue Branch (HCA #70 - Union County) - 2190 adult beetles; #4 - 2 March 2007 - Lordamercy Cove (HCA #66 - Union County) - 1435 adult beetles; #5 - 7 March 2007 - Alex Cove (HCA #65 - Union County) - 2173 adult beetles; #6 - 9 March 2007 - Mulky Creek (HCA #75 - Union County) - 1437 adult beetles; #7 - 14 March 2007 - Scataway Creek (HCA #40 - Towns County) - 2213 adult beetles; #8 - 20 March 2007 - Ivylog Creek (HCA #56 - Union County) - 2189 adult beetles; #9 - 23 March 2007 - High Shoals (HCA #52 - Towns County) - 1737 adult beetles; #10 - 28 March 2007 - Swallow's Creek (HCA #42 - Towns County) - 1289 adult beetles; #11 - 4 April 2007 - Corbin Creek (HCA #48 - Towns County) - 1424 adult beetles; #12 - 6 April 2007 - Little Rock Creek (HCA #81 - Fannin County) - 1536 adult beetles; #13 - 10 April 2007 - Cooper Creek Scenic Area (HCA #74 - Union County) - 2602 adult beetles; #14 - 14 April 2007 - Bob Creek (HCA #58 - Union County) - 1832 adult beetles; #15 - 19 April 2007 - Big Bald Cove (HCA #54 - Union County) - 2555 adult beetles; #16 - 24 April 2007 - Soapstone Creek (HCA #53 - Towns County) - 1221 beetle eggs; #17 - 24 April 2007 - Soapstone Creek (HCA #53 - Towns County) - 1139 adult beetles; #18 - 24 April 2007 - Wolf Creek (HCA #63 - Union County) - 2588 adult beetles; #19 - 27 April 2007 - Waters Creek (HCA #72 - Lumpkin County) - 1964 beetle eggs; #20 - 27 April 2007 - Dicks Creek (HCA #72 - Lumpkin County) - 2555 adult beetles; #21 - 27 April 2007 - Blood Mountain Cove (HCA #69 - Lumpkin County) - 1346 adult beetles; #22 - 1 May 2007 - Wolf Creek (HCA #63 - Union County) - 1446 beetle eggs; #23 - 1 May 2007 - Wolf Creek (HCA #63 - Union County) - 1524 adult beetles; #24 - 4 May 2007 - Ivylog Creek (HCA #56 - Union County) - 2704 beetle eggs; #25 - 4 May 2007 - Ivylog Creek (HCA #56 - Union County) - 2461 adult beetles; #26 - 8 May 2007 - Bowers Cove (HCA #62 - Union County) - 1514 adult beetles;

#27 - 8 May 2007 - Bowers Cove (HCA #62 - Union County) - 2225 beetle eggs; #28 - 11 May 2007 - Wolf Creek (HCA #63 - Union County) - 2891 beetle eggs; #29 - 11 May 2007 - Wolf Creek (HCA #63 - Union County) - 1351 adult beetles; #30 - 16 May 2007 - Bob Creek (HCA #58 - Union County) - 1917 beetle eggs; #31 - 21 May 2007 - Waters Creek (HCA #72 - Lumpkin County) - 1124 beetle eggs; #32 - 25 May 2007 - Bowers Cove (HCA #62 - Union County) - 2013 adult beetles

#33 - 25 May 2007 - Bowers Cove (HCA #62 - Union County) - 1939 beetle eggs; #34 - 4 June 2007 - Brier Creek (Private land - Towns County) - 2383 adult beetles; #35 - 6 June 2007 - Duke's Creek (DNR property - White County) - 2027 beetle eggs; #36 - 11 June 2007 - Another HCA release, information forthcoming - approx. 2000 adult beetles; #37 - 13 June 2007 - Duke's Creek (DNR property - White County) - 1118 beetle eggs; #38 - 29 June 2007 - Duke's Creek (DNR property - White County) - 604 adult beetles.

The total adult beetles released since production began in 2006 is approx. 74,000 (24,737 in 2006 & approx. 49,000 in 2007). The total amount of beetle eggs released since production began in 2006 is 56,629 (36,053 in 2006 & 20,576 in 2007). This brings our grand total of production for the last two years to around 130,000!! After our adult beetle release tomorrow at Duke's Creek, there will be no more releases this year. In addition to the numbers shown above, we have approximately 2400 beetles currently in summer storage (we will probably add another 100 - 200 more to that total over the next couple of weeks). This means that the total adult beetle production for our lab this year will be nearly 52,000 (also including beetles donated to NGC&SU earlier this year). This surpasses my goal of 50,000, which was double last year's production!!

So far, the beetle egg releases in clip cages this year has yielded a hatch percentage of over 90%! I still have quite a few to evaluate, but the numbers have been very consistent so far. Hopefully, this means that the egg releases are resulting in a significant number of adults in the field. These are adult beetles that have never seen a rearing cage in the lab, so it is our hope that these beetles will not have to overcome any "conditioning" that may have occurred in lab-reared beetles. Hopefully we will examine this issue more closely next year.

Other issues that the UGA group is currently examining with us include those of reproduction in the field by Sasajiscymnus. Some exciting preliminary data seems to show that our bugs may be laying eggs quite well, translating into adults. More on this as the research develops.

During the later summer months through fall, James Sullivan and I (and others who are interested) are going to intensify our efforts to try to find adult beetles in the field, especially in the areas where egg releases were performed, as well as areas where "premated " beetles were released. This will be a definite "needlein a-haystack" venture, but we hope that we may be able to recover some adult beetles from the field in these areas!

Also, earlier this month, I gave a lecture to the Institute for Continued Learning (ICL@YHC) group concerning the current status of the HWA problem and possible solutions. The lecture primarily addressed the chemical treatment options that land owners have, and also addressed the biocontrol options available to public lands.

Beetle "house" renovation has been at a stand-still during this past month. This has not been due to funding, but it has been primarily due to other maintenance issues on campus which have deserved more attention. I have been assured by members of our maintenance department that things will proceed at a greater pace this month. My hope is that we will move into our new facility by the end of July. After the facility is completed, we will make plans for an open house so interested folks can see our new lab.

.With our current funding levels, we are certainly in a better financial position than we have been in before. We should definitely be able to cover the remaining construction and renovation costs for the new lab. I should also be able to hire several student workers next year with our current level of funding. I am also considering the possibility of hiring another person for part-time work for next year. This position would pay at least $12/hour for 20 hours a week during the beetlerearing season. For each parttime person, $10,000 will be needed per year, and I believe that we have enough money to cover the expenses of one additional worker. However, we would certainly still welcome donations that could go toward this goal of hiring part-time help and other expenses for the laboratory. If anyone wishes to donate to this project, please send your donation to: Dr. Paul T. Arnold, P.O. Box 68, 1 College Street, Young Harris College, Young Harris, GA 30582. Make checks payable to Young Harris College and put in the memo of the check "Hemlock Project". Any money received will be placed directly into the Hemlock Project Restricted Fund at Young Harris College, and will be used solely for the operation of the biopredator facility. Young Harris College is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.

Anyone interested in helping us should contact me (706- 379-5131 or 706-781-5946), Dr. Cathy Cox, President of Young Harris College (706- 379-5111) or Bert Huffman (706-379-5112).