Forest Health and Monitoring

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forest tent caterpillar on leaf
Forest tent caterpillar on leaf. (Maine Forest Service)

The Division of Forest Health & Monitoring was established in 1921 to protect the forest, shade and ornamental tree resources of the state from significant insect and disease damage and to provide pest management and damage prevention for homeowners, municipalities, and forest land owners and managers, thereby preserving the overall health of Maine's forest resources (video).

Here are some of the tree pests and diseases people ask about the most:

  • White Pine Needle Damage White pines are showing symptoms of a disease complex called white pine needle damage. Disease symptoms include needle discoloration/yellowing and needle drop.
    (Target: White Pine)
  • Beech Leaf Disease Beech leaf disease is an emerging disease.
    (Target: Beech)
  • Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Hemlock woolly adelgid populations are extreme and are causing tree decline and mortality in portions of coastal Maine.
    (Target: Hemlocks)
  • Emerald Ash Borer Emerald ash borer has been found in new towns in Maine. Let us know if you think you have seen damage from emerald ash borer.
    (Target: Ash)
  • Browntail Moth Maine is currently experiencing a browntail moth outbreak.
    (Target: Hardwoods)
  • Spruce Budworm Spruce budworm damage remains on the rise throughout Maine. We continue to track populations carefully in anticipation of an approaching outbreak.
    (Target: Spruce and Fir)

Services

Maps

Want to know more about where pest activity has been observed and quarantines exist? We are working on a consolidated map, but in the meantime, please find these resources for specific observations:

Quarantines

Learn more about what quarantines might affect your forest and tree products at the links below.

Webinars

Here is a sampling of recent webinars from our staff. You can view other Forest Health Recordings on our YouTube playlist.

Webinar Title/Link Date Short Description

Forest Tent Caterpillar in Sugarbush

2024 10.28

Maine Forest Service entomologists Brittany Schappach and Gabe LeMay, and forest health experts from other states presented a forest tent caterpillar (FTC) educational session. This session provided knowledge and tools for folks to make informed management decisions as a response to heavy defoliation damage in sugar maples from FTCs. Topics included FTC life cycle, history in Maine, aerial survey data, impacts from defoliation on sugar maple trees, and experiences with FTC in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2024 08.26

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry hosted Rob Cole the State of New York Oak Wilt Coordinator, who presented information on Oak Wilt Disease in the State of New York. Maine Forest Service staff also provided an update for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on the known status of emerald ash borer in Maine, and updates on other insects and diseases affecting Maine's forests and trees.

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2024 05.06

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry provided an update for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on the known status of emerald ash borer in Maine, current state efforts, municipal opportunities as well as updates on other insects and diseases affecting forests and trees. Guests from New Hampshire also provided insights from their experiences responding to emerald ash borer.

Resources:

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2023 12.04

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry hosted guest speakers Cliff Sadof (Purdue University Extension), Jeff Gillis (WellTree Inc) and Tom Ford (The Davey Tree Expert Co) and provided information on managing city and town trees in the presence of emerald ash borer. 

Resources:

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2023 08.28

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry provided an update for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on emerald ash borer in Maine. In addition to emerald ash borer, this update covered hemlock woolly adelgid and Asian longhorned beetle.

Firewood Alert, the Control and Prevention of invasive insects, What can you do?

2023 07.21

Maine Forest Ranger Erik Ahlquist and Entomologist Mike Parisio discuss the rules of importation of firewood into and throughout Maine. They talk about how to help prevent the spread of invasive insects by limiting the movement of firewood. Invasive insects can have a huge impact on our forests, home, and life. Everyone who enjoys our forests and/or works and depends on our forests have a stake.

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2023 05.01

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry provided an update for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on emerald ash borer in Maine. This update featured guest speaker Jeff Tarling, from the City of Portland (retired) and Peter Nelson, with the Schoodic Institute.

A Review of Recent Spruce Budworm Activity in Maine

2023 03.24

Maine Forest Service Entomologist Mike Parisio discusses the results of Maine's various spruce budworm (SBW) population monitoring activities over the last four monitoring seasons spanning from 2019-2022. Topics covered include SBW monitoring through pheromone trapping, light trapping, aerial and ground defoliation surveys, overwintering larval surveys, and touch on management activities by private landowners in recent years.

Municipal Emerald Ash Borer Update

2022 12.05

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry provided an update for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on emerald ash borer in Maine. In addition to emerald ash borer, this presentations had updates on browntail moth, winter moth, hemlock woolly adelgid, red pine scale and beech leaf disease.

Overview of Beech Leaf Disease

2022 06.17

Cameron McIntire, Plant Pathologist with the USDA Forest Service in Durham NH and Aaron Bergdahl, Forest Pathologist with the Maine Forest Service provided an overview of the beech leaf disease situation in the US and Maine.

Landowner Class 101: The Basics of Diagnosing Tree Disorders in Maine

2021 06.21

This presentation in the June 2021 Landowner 101 class covers diagnosing tree disorders in Maine, as well as the latest on the recent discovery of beech leaf disease in Maine.

Towards Early Detection of Oak Wilt in Maine

2020 07.08

Maine Forest Service Forest Pathologist Aaron Bergdahl provided information about recognition of oak wilt disease.

Contact Us:

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Don’t forget to check out the Hot Topics, and feel free to contact us for more information.

We have offices in Augusta and Old Town and regional field staff. Reach out to be put in contact with a forest entomologist, forest pathologist, field technician or the State Entomologist

foresthealth@maine.gov

(207) 287-2431

Augusta:

Maine Forest Service
90 Blossom Lane, Suite 201, Deering
168 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0168

View in Google Maps

Old Town:

Maine Forest Service
87 Airport Road
Old Town, ME 04468

Several Maine Forest Service programs are wholly or partially funded by the USDA Forest Service under various authorities.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)

To file a complaint of discrimination: write
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights
Room 326-W, Whitten Building
14th and Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
or call (202)720-5964 (voice or TDD).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.