The Maine Department of Agriculture will be holding a day-long workshop on Tuesday, June 16 in Augusta to train volunteers to educate the public about the potential threat of ALB. They are looking for people willing to attend this workshop and share the information within their communities. The workshop is free, and lunch and snacks will be provided. Participants will be asked to conduct three or more outreach events in their communities in July and August, with the assistance of the Department.
If interested please contact Anne Bills at the Department of Agriculture at annebills@rocketmail.com or 207-287-3892 and more information will be provided.
The Asian longhorned beetle is a destructive pest of many hardwood tree species including maple, elm, ash, and birch. The threat to shade trees, forests, lumber and maple sugar production, nurseries and tourism is very high should this beetle become established in Maine. ALB was first discovered in New York in 1996 and has since been found in three other states, the closest being Massachusetts. Beetles may be transported by movement of wood products such as firewood, packing crates and pallets. Educating the public about this major forest threat is crucial to the health of Maine’s trees.
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