Archive for the ‘federal funds’ Category

UT receives $500,000 for adelgid research

Sunday, October 11th, 2009
U.S. Rep. John J. "Jimmy" Duncan and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander hace secured $500,000 in federal funds for the University of Tennessee in their fight against the hemlock woolly adelgid, an unwelcome invader that has been killing off eastern hemlocks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The Maryville Daily Times is reporting that the funds were awarded to a team of faculty in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology for "Improving Hemlock Health in Tennessee."

The funds will go towards expanding plans to breed natural predators of the adelgids. At UT's Lindsay Young Beneficial Insects Laboratory, natural predators that feed on the insects are mass-produced to control the pest. Since 2003, nearly 500,000 predaceous beetles reared at the lab have been released on public lands in Tennessee, primarily in the Smokies and the Cherokee National Forest.

Click here to find more information on the hemlock woolly adelgid, including a video on how biologists are using predator beetles to control the invaders.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

Smoky Mountain Rental Cabins Have a fall trip planned for the Smokies? Be sure to check out our cabin and chalet listings!

Posted in beetles, eastern hemlocks, federal funds, hemlock woolly adelgid | Comments Off