Balsam Woolly Adelgid: Destructive Pest in North America

The Balsam Woolly Adelgid: Destructive Pest in North America

Balsam woolly adelgid, also known as Adelges piceae, is an insect native to Europe that has become a destructive pest in North America. It feeds on the sap of fir trees and can cause the trees to die.

Explanation: The Balsam woolly adelgid or Adelges piceae is a small, soft-bodied insect that infests and kills balsam fir trees and other species in the fir family. It is native to central Europe but has become a pest in North America, particularly in the Appalachian Mountains. The insects feed on the sap of the trees, causing a disease known as balsam woolly adelgid gall, which damages the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients. Over time, this can lead to the death of the tree.

It is a small, aphid-like insect that feeds on the sap of the trees, eventually causing their death. The balsam woolly adelgid has been a significant problem in some regions, leading to the decline of balsam fir forests.