By Ed
Pierce
According
to state forestry officials, the month of August is the most active time of the
year for invasive insects in Maine and a period when adult wood-boring insect
life and certain tree diseases can be easily identified.
Representatives
of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture are asking the public to examine trees in their
communities and forests and report any visible invasive pest activity they see.
Invaders
such as the Emerald Ash Borer and Spotted Laternfly have made their way into
Maine in the last few years and state forestry officials are striving to limit
their damage here.
"Our first defense against invasive species is to prevent
their arrival in the first place," said Maine State Horticulturist Gary
Fish. “Our partners at USDA APHIS and Customs and Border Protection here in the
U.S. and Canadian Food Inspection Agency north of the border frequently stop
plant pests before they can gain a foothold in North America. However, the
volume of trade and travel prevents them from stopping every pest.”
Forestry officials say that invasive species are non-native
organisms and species that when introduced to a new environment lack natural
predators or diseases to keep their populations low. Species are considered
invasive when they harm the environment, the economy or human health.
Patty Cormier, a Maine State Forester, said that she recognizes
the importance that the public can play in protecting trees across the state from
invasive species.
“Trees play an important role in our state economy and provide
environmental benefits, including clean air and water and wildlife habitat and
recreation opportunities,” Cormier said. “The public, our most important
partner in detecting invasive species, is our eyes on the ground. We can avoid
tree-loss from invasive species by stopping the spread of these pests.”
While checking trees, state officials urge the public to report
finding these four invasive species:
- The
emerald ash borer, a small metallic-green insect which are deadly for ash
trees. They leave small one-eighth inch D-shaped exit holes in ash bark, and deposit a
sawdust-like waste for feeding under the bark. The emerald ash borer has
been identified in York and Cumberland Counties and in northwestern
Aroostook County in Maine.
- Spotted
lanternfly, a colorful planthopper and a hitchhiker that damages grapes,
hops, and a wide variety of plants. Adults lay eggs as dull-colored masses
and can appear as brightly colored nymphs and adults on plants.
Identification is important because while the
living spotted lanternfly population dies during the winter, their egg masses of 30 to
50 eggs laid in neat rows remain and survive through the cold to hatch in the spring.
- Asian longhorn
beetles feed on maple trees and other hardwood or broadly leaved trees. The
public is asked to examine trees for oval to round wounds on the bark
where the Asian longhorn beetle females have chewed out an indentation to
deposit their eggs, leaving piles of coarse sawdust at the base of trees.
- Oak wilt disease
is serious fungal disease affecting oak trees by suddenly wilting red oak
trees during summer months.
“We’re asking people to take 10 minutes to search the trees in
their yards, neighborhoods, and forests,” Cormier said. “If you find a
suspected invasive pest, take a picture and send us information at
bugwatch@maine.gov. Its quick and easy and will connect you with an expert who
can help.”
Cormier said that the photographs should show enough detail that
an expert can verify or determine if follow-up is needed.
“It can be helpful to include an object, such as a coin or pencil,
for scale,” she said.
If it is an insect, Cormier recommends trying to capture it in
case a photograph is not enough for forestry officials.
“Otherwise, make sure you can find the affected tree again if
needed,” she said. “Captured insects can be stored in hard containers in a cool
place. Most will survive in the refrigerator long enough to receive a response
from the department.”
State officials say that there are simple actions that everyone can
take to avoid introducing and spreading invasive insects in Maine.
They recommend only purchasing firewood where you’ll be burning it
or gathering locally on site when permitted. When transporting or moving
firewood, they suggest an inspection to detect invasive insects hiding within
log piles.
Another suggestion is when driving to a new area in Maine, carefully
inspect bags and boxes to ensure they are free from insects or invasive species.
Fish said that we all have a role to play in preventing invasive
species movement in Maine.
“Taking just a few minutes to check the trees in your yard can go
a long way to ensuring that the forests and trees we rely on now are here for
future generations,” he said. <
