"Old trees are commonly attacked by various fungal disease and decay species, notably Heterobasidion annosum and Armillaria species, which rot the heartwood and eventually leave the tree liable to windthrow, and Rhizina undulata, which may kill groups of trees following minor grass fires that activate growth of the Rhizina spores.[9]"
We have had some serious problems in this state from the wooly adelgid, which is a hideous parasite of the hemlock.
We lost a hemlock during this last hurricane. It hit the house but twisted on it’s way down which lessened the force. The center was infested with black ants.