RUMFORD — The invasive emerald ash borer has been detected in Rumford, as well as 15 other Maine towns this year, according to Town Manager George O’Keefe.

At the May 7 select board meeting, O’Keefe said the message he was advised to deliver to the public is that it’s important not to transport out-of-state firewood.

In addition to Rumford, the pest has been confirmed in Bangor, Benedicta Township, Benton, Bowdoinham, Buckfield, Dixfield, Greenwood, Harpswell, Hartford, Palermo, Stockholm, Sumner, Topsham, West Paris and Wilton.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry said the beetle kills ash trees within two to five years by boring under the bark.

Signs to look for include “blonding” (woodpeckers stripping bark), D-shaped exit holes and canopy dieback.

Residents are urged to report suspected sightings through the Maine Forest Service website and avoid moving firewood, which is the primary cause of spread.

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is implementing biological controls, such as releasing specialized wasps that attack the bug.

This insect is a metallic wood-boring beetle that’s native to Asia but made its way into Maine in 2018.

In a 2025 interview, Maine Forest Service forest entomologist Michael Parisio said that, just as with invasive plants, early awareness is the best tool against these pests. 

“Once (emerald ash borer) arrives on your doorstep, you do have a limited amount of time to figure out what your response is going to be,” he said, noting that ash trees make up about 2% of Maine’s forests.

It’s human activity, like moving firewood, that accelerates spread. Firewood movement is one of the actions the state is trying to manage with quarantines and public outreach, but enforcement can only go so far, he said. 

“Managing invasive insects isn’t just about reacting when a tree is dying. It’s about preparing, monitoring and applying targeted controls before a problem becomes irreversible,” Parisio said.

Staff Writer Joe Charpentier contributed to this report.

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