Meet the Beetles: Simsbury Using Ladybugs To Save Trees

SIMSBURY, CT — Ladies and gentlemen ... the beetles.

The Town of Simsbury this week employed a secret weapon of the entomological variety, releasing Japanese Lady Beetles at multiple park locations to combat invasive insects that can kill native Hemlock trees.

While entomologists refer to these beetles by that name, most just call them "Lady Bugs," one of nature's more beloved insects that, even, entomophobes don't freak out about.

Helping Simsbury in the initiative was Carole Cheah, a research scientist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; Aimee Petras, executive director of the Farmington River Watershed Association; and Sally Rieger, Simsbury representative to the Lower Farmington River & Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee.

They were released at multiple municipal properties, such as Town Forest Park, Ethel Walker Woods, Darling Hills, and Belden Forest, according to local officials.

Ultimately, the town wants to make it a "hard day's night" for a growing hemlock woolly adelgid population.

That's because these buggers are invasive pests that can kill native hemlock trees.

They have the Town of Simsbury crying for "help."

But there is another reason why beetles are being used. They're good for the environment.

Called "biological control," these insects feed on invasive insects, eradicating them and doing the job environmentally harmful pesticides might accomplish.

"Hemlock mortality is a serious problem because the trees provide habitat for wildlife and keep the water in watercourses shaded, benefitting aquatic organisms," wrote the town in a release.

This is the second year the Lower Farmington River & Salmon Brook Wild and Scenic Committee. has worked with Cheah.

Last year, volunteers released the beetles at the Simsbury Land Trust's Tanager Hill property, Stratton Brook State Park, and Bloomfield's Farmington River Park.

Simsbury Town Manager Marc Nelson said this unique means to eradicate a local scourge is an example of how a municipality can act proactively and creatively.

“Smart and forward-thinking partnerships like this one are when we see government at its best, and we thank Dr. Cheah and her collaborators, for their tireless work protecting the environment and supporting important public education efforts,” said Nelson in a release.

Cheah expressed gratitude to all who were involved in the initiative.

“I would like to thank the U.S. National Park Service, for their funding, and the LFSWS, for their support, in this important ongoing project,” she said.

Officials said more than 263,000 beetles have been released in Connecticut, including town-owned open spaces in Wethersfield, Monroe, Woodbury, New Hartford, Glastonbury, Bloomfield, and Windsor.

In addition, state parks, forests, land trusts, water companies, and private properties have also had beetles released.

The committee has funded the operation, so there is no cost to the town, which is a good thing because taxpayers won't have to pay extra money to "the taxman."

For more information on Carole Cheah’s work and Japanese Lady beetles, click on this link.