![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v2/images/header/email-15x10.gif){kind=small}
Subscribe
BOONE, N.C. — The hemlock woolly adelgid, a sap-sucking insect, is attacking more trees in western North Carolina.
But now county officials are getting new tools to fight the pest through a grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.
The adelgid began threatening trees in North Carolina's northwestern mountains a couple of years ago. Watauga County agricultural extension agents say that now six out of 10 hemlocks there are infested.
A grant from Golden LEAF bought equipment for extension service offices in Raleigh and about 20 counties. Watauga County's office got high-powered microscopes to help them identify pests more quickly.
They can also study the insect's life cycle and the effects of pesticide treatment.
![[e-mail]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/presentation/v1/images/icon_email-story.gif){kind=icon}
Get News Alerts to your Email & Cell Phone
![[READ STORY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/national_world/national/2013/05/14/12445890/12446751-1368816960-100x75.jpg)
![[VIEW PAGE]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/news/local/2013/05/13/12441232/hahn-100x75.jpg)
![[READ STORY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/business/2013/05/06/12417151/2457a21a00d94324b6fc448c8ec173d0-Photo-1-100x70.jpg)
![[GALLERY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2013/03/28/12278304/LNL-100x75.jpg)
![[VIEW PAGE]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/traffic/2009/07/23/5645694/beltline-100x75.jpg)
![[GALLERY]](http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/entertainment/2013/03/04/12182235/12182236-1362457268-100x75.jpg)
WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.
This story is closed for comments.