Laricobius nigrinus beetles are established and spreading on their own in Western NC, so it’s not really necessary for individuals to release that species. Additionally, there is not really an accessible commercial source to buy the beetles. You may already have Laricobius beetles on your hemlocks or the beetles should eventually come to your property naturally. However, at this point we can’t rely on them to protect and restore the health of the hemlocks alone. While biocontrol is a hopeful long-term solution along with other IPM approaches, right now the most reliable way to protect your hemlocks from HWA is with chemical treatment.
If you would like to monitor your own infested trees for Laricobius beetles, please see our page on beetle monitoring at home.