Tuesday, June 5, 2007
476

Immediate Impact of Imidacloprid Treatment for Control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities

Melissa A. Churchel1, C. Wayne Berisford1, James L. Hanula2, and James M. Vose3. (1) Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 413 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30602, (2) Forestry Sciences Laboratory, USDA - Forest Service, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, (3) Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, USDA - Forest Service, 3160 Coweeta Lab Road, Otto, NC 28763

Imidacloprid is considered to be a safe and effective compound that provides up to two years of protection against the hemlock woolly adelgid. However, it is believed to be highly toxic to certain aquatic organisms. Since hemlocks frequently grow near streams there is concern that treatments over large areas may impact aquatic fauna. The objective of this study is to determine if there are negative effects on aquatic macroinvertebrates due to soil injections of imidacloprid. Soil injections were performed in the Chattahoochee National Forest in northeastern Georgia in November 2005. Aquatic macroinvertebrate and water samples were collected every 14 days for the first 3 months following treatment, and monthly thereafter. Biotic indices, including number of taxa, number of EPT taxa, and abundance were calculated for each sample date and compared between dates to determine the level of impact. Initial analyses show no immediate impact of imidacloprid treatments on aquatic macroinvertebrates.

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