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Elongate Hemlock Scale, Fiorinia externa

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Alternate name: Fiorinia scale, Abbreviated Name: EHS

Hosts: Hemlock, fir = primary hosts. Spruce is also a common host. Secondary coniferous hosts only usually infested in the presence of heavy scale populations on primary hosts. Pines not affected.

Distribution in US: South to Georgia and South Carolina, west to Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota and, north to southern New York and New England (including southern NH and ME).

Known populations in Maine: map

To date forest infestations of elongate hemlock scale in Maine have only been found in Kittery Point. Infestations on planted trees have been found from Kittery to Mount Desert. It is probable that elongate hemlock scale is established in the Maine's forests outside of Kittery.

Forest Stands:

County	Town	No. Sites	Host	Detection Year
York	Kittery	2	Hemlock	2010, 2012

 

Planted Trees:

County	Town	No. Sites	Host	Detection Year
Cumberland	Cape Elizabeth	1	Hemlock/Fir	2010
	Falmouth	1	Fir	2012
	Gorham	1	Fir	2011
	Portland	1	Hemlock	2011
	Scarborough	1	Fir	2011
	Yarmouth	1	Hemlock	2012
Hancock	Sedgwick	1	Hemlock	2012
	Mount Desert	1	Hemlock/Fir	2012
Sagadahoc	Topsham	1	Fir	2012
York	Berwick	1	Fir	2011
	Kennebunk	1	Hemlock/Fir	2009
	Kennebunkport	1	Hemlock	2009
	Old Orchard Beach	1	Hemlock	2010
	Saco	1	Fir	2012
	Wells	1	Hemlock	2011
	York	3	Hemlock (1)/Fir (2)	2011, 2012

 

Where to look: Planted hemlock, fir and spruce. Planted and natural hemlock in areas affected by hemlock woolly adelgid or near detections of elongate hemlock scale.

Field Characteristics (See Photos Below): Yellow spots on foliage apparent on the upper surfaces of the needles. Foliage of more heavily infested trees will have a dirty appearance from a distance. Crowns may be thin. Female scales are covered by a parallel-sided, yellowish-brown waxy coating. Males, by a white, elongate coating. Crawlers and adult males are tiny, yellow, translucent and soft bodied. Crawlers are present during the warmer months of the year. Presence of crawlers and winged males can be determined by jarring infested foliage over a piece of petroleum jelly coated dark paper.

NOTE: In 2009, 2010 and 2011 detections of elongate hemlock scale have been reported during the last week of August. The insect may be more noticeable at that time due to the length of time it has been feeding over the course of the growing season. It appears to be a good time of year to check your trees for this pest.

Waxy Buildup Apparent from a Distance in Late Summer/Early Fall (pictured below on fir)

 

Report Suspected EHS

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Photos: More photos can be found at: http://www.invasive.org/browse/subthumb.cfm?sub=304.

Elongate hemlock scale on hemlock needles:

 

Elongate hemlock scale on hemlock (left, middle (adelgid circled)) and fir (right):

 

Needle discoloration on hemlock (left) and fir (right):
Note: other pathogens, pests and processes will cause needle yellowing. Look for scale coverings on the needle undersides if yellowing is apparent on the upper surfaces of the needles.

 

Crawlers (left) and adult males (right, only winged form):
Note: The insects pictured below are trapped in petroleum jelly.

Crawlers (~0.1 to 0.2 mm)

Report Suspected EHS

Modified: November 13, 2012

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