AUGUSTA — The Maine Association of Conservation Districts employee committee is hosting a booth at the Agricultural Trade Show in Augusta, Jan. 12-14. There will be an educational display highlighting identification of invasive forest pests and invasive terrestrial plant species.

The booth is the kickoff for a series of education and outreach events scheduled by the association in 2016 to help combat the spread of invasive forest pests and is supported by a grant from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Division of Animal and Plant Health.

In addition to the association booth focusing on invasive forest pests, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will host a bugwatch booth at the trade show for participants to learn more about these threats to Maine’s forests and wood products industry.

Maine Forest Service forest entomologist Allison Kanoti will give two presentations on invasive forest pests. The first is from 10:15-11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the Kennebec/Penobscot Room, in partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Board of Pesticides Control and the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Kanoti’s presentation will focus on invasive pests, including emerald ash borer, Asian long-horned beetle, hemlock woolly adelgid and a re-emerging native threat, spruce budworm.

From 2:45-3:45 p.m. in the Augusta/Capitol/Pine Tree Room, Kanoti will speak on “invasive pests and the challenges ahead for woodland owners.” Each of Kanoti’s presentations qualifies for one Board of Pesticides Control pesticides applicator recertification credit.

Maine Forest Service forest entomologist Colleen Teerling will give presentations on insect threats in Maine. From 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Arnold Room, Teerling will speak on insect threats to Christmas tree growers in the state. And from 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, in the Washington/York Room, Teerling will speak to Maine Maple Producers Association members and others interested in maple production about insects that can affect maple trees.

A full list of invasive threats and information for each pest can be found at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/invasive_threats/index.htm.

For more information on invasive forest pest outreach and education in Maine, contact Karen Coluzzi at the DACF Division of Animal and Plant Health at [email protected] or at 207-287-7551.

For more information on upcoming invasive forest pest outreach and education events to be hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry employee committee, contact Joanna Tarrazi at: [email protected] or at 207-564-2321, ext. 3, or Hildy Ellis at: [email protected], or at 207-596-2040.