Maine Quarantine Rules for Emerald Ash Borer and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Revised

March 18, 2020

For more information contact: Jim Britt at: jim.britt@maine.gov

DACF subject matter experts:

  • Forest products, contact Mike Parisio at (207) 287-7094
  • Ash and hemlock nursery stock and seedlings, contact Gary Fish at (207) 287-7545

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) has announced revisions to the quarantine rules for both emerald ash borer (EAB) and hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). The changes are identical to those published for public comment in late-January.

This announcement comes at an important time of year as we are quickly approaching EAB flight season. The flight period for EAB begins May 1, when adult beetles can begin emerging from infested trees or other ash products. The majority of new EAB infestations are the direct result of human-assisted movement. Many of them, a result of movement of infested firewood.

EAB

The EAB quarantine area within Maine has expanded due to new detections in southern Maine near and outside the boundaries of the previous quarantine area. The expansion is designed to capture the likely extent of the infested areas in southern Maine, given our knowledge of how quickly the insect spreads naturally. Major additions include the northern half of Cumberland County and the five southernmost towns in Oxford County. The complete area in Maine under quarantine for EAB now includes all of Cumberland and York Counties and parts of Aroostook and Oxford Counties.

The quarantine rule bans movement of ash nursery stock from the quarantine area, and regulates the movement of hardwood firewood, hardwood chips, and ash products with bark, such as logs, pulp, and untreated ash lumber. For complete information about what can and cannot move freely from EAB regulated areas, access the Maps, Regulations & Quarantine Information section on: http://www.maine.gov/eab

HWA

The area under quarantine in Maine due to HWA has increased to reflect detections in the forests of Midcoast Maine and ornamental trees in coastal Hancock County. Repeated detections in ornamental trees in coastal Hancock County are an important reason for the expansion, highlighting the role of landscaping activities in the human-assisted spread of this forest pest. The complete area under quarantine for HWA in Maine now includes all of Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and York Counties and portions of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, and Waldo Counties.

This quarantine continues to regulate rooted hemlock seedlings and nursery stock, hemlock branches and/or needles, chips containing branches and/or needles, and uncomposted bark containing branches and/or needles. Often over-looked, clusters of HWA appear as small cotton-ball like masses on the undersides of hemlock twigs. They can be easily identified when viewed up close. If you suspect you have seen HWA, mark the branch, take a picture or sample and contact the Maine Forest Service. Report suspected HWA online or call (207) 287-2431.

Additional information on HWA quarantine regulations and how to recognize and report its damage can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/forestpests#hwa