Answers to frequently asked questions may be found among these published articles by David Brown, President of SafeYard Organics.

The Ticks of Maine

Currently, there are 15 species of ticks in Maine; some of which have been brought here by migratory wildlife but are unable to establish long term populations in the state. Maine’s three most prevalent species are the black-legged tick, dog tick and the woodchuck tick. The black-legged tick, commonly referred to as the deer tick, and the dog tick are the most encountered types. The woodchuck tick is a common species, but they are typically found in and around the dens, nests, and homes of their host species: woodchucks, raccoons, foxes, skunks, weasels, porcupines, coyotes, dogs, opossums, and cats. I should mention that the opossum has been purported to be a devourer of ticks; but further studies have shown that is false.

There are two other species of ticks that I should mention: the lone star tick and the moose or winter tick. The lone star tick has been sighted in Maine but has not established multi-generation populations here yet. The moose tick is harming the moose population because they are unable to effectively groom themselves. Older and younger moose are most susceptible, leading to poor reproduction and low calf survival through the first winter. Moose ticks, however, are not a threat to human health.

The black-legged tick can transmit Lyme, anadiplosis, babesiosis, borrelia miyamotoi disease and Powassan encephalitis to humans while the lone star tick can transmit alpha-gal allergy which can cause a severe reaction to certain foods, especially red meat. The dog tick (or wood tick) can be a vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. The woodchuck tick may carry Lyme disease but is known to be a vector of one of the deadliest viruses, Powassan. Most tick-borne pathogens are established upon the first feeding on small rodent and bird hosts.

Among the personal protection measures I would recommend when out walking or working near any unmown vegetation is to wear light-colored, long-sleeved garments and to tuck your pants into your socks. You may also apply a protective barrier of permethrin to your clothing (avoid using on skin), especially from your knees to ankles. There are sundry other repellents on the market which you can apply to your skin, many of which are intended for long lasting outdoor exposure. Another important recommendation is to get into a habit of constantly checking yourself and your pets for ticks every time you come in from outdoors.

To ensure a safe yard I would advocate for incorporating basic modifications to your habitat if you have not already. Keep your grass mowed to three inches. Remove any leaf piles away from the property edge once outdoor temperatures are above 50 degrees so as not to prematurely disturb any overwintering bee pollinators below them. Ticks will also use leaf and brush piles as shelter year-round. It is best, if intentionally leaving leaf piles for pollinators in the fall, to place them at least 30-50 feet away from the property’s edge. Avoid planting or allowing certain invasive plants to be near areas you frequent. Multi-floral rose and Japanese Barberry are two examples of preferred habitats of small rodents and ticks. Also, ticks tend to be found in areas where humidity levels are high.

If treating your property (either you or a professional), make sure safe techniques that have the least impact on beneficial insects, pets and wildlife are employed. There are many important insects that can be harmed by using inorganic pesticides.

Remember that ticks are most active from early spring to early summer and then again in the late summer and fall when the temperatures are cooler and less humid.

The Maddening Mosquito

Upon starting my business to provide organic property protection from invasive insects, I researched the characteristics and habits of those insects that irritate Mainers the most, including brown-tailed moths, ticks, and mosquitoes. Here is what I have learned about the monster mosquito that many Mainers refer to as our “state bird.”

Mosquitoes dined on dinosaurs and aided in their demise but, while reptiles from that age perished, mosquitoes survived. Mosquitoes are very adaptable to change and can evolve with new environments within a few generations. The only two things mosquitoes need for survival are warmth and a host.

The male mosquito, which does not bite humans, lives on plant nectar. The male mates with the female, who, in her lifetime of about two months (the male lives for about ten days), only needs to mate one time to wreak her repetitive havoc. While a significant nuisance to us, especially during summer dusks and dawns, the mosquito is also considered one of the most dangerous insects on the planet for the diseases, past, present, and future, it can transport such as West Nile virus, encephalitis, malaria, Yellow Fever and Zika.

The female mosquito prefers the blood type O over A and B. If you are type O and you have a higher level of certain chemicals in your skin, particularly lactic acid, your chances of becoming a target increase. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, like navy blue and black, and to certain deodorants, perfumes, soaps, and fragrances. Hunting by sight and smell, the female can detect carbon dioxide from over two hundred feet away. When you exercise, you release more carbon dioxide, and your heat signature is easily identifiable. Also, women who are pregnant have an elevated body temperature which causes them to emit 20% more carbon dioxide, making them more of a target. Mosquitoes cannot regulate their own body temperature and operate at peak performance in temperatures above 75 degrees. The ideal mosquito habitat is a hot and moist area with stagnant water (such as a still pond or a rain-filled bucket) in which to lay her eggs.

Fortunately for Mainers, most mosquitoes are bothersome in our enjoyment of the outdoors but do not carry many of the diseases as in other parts of the world. According to Mainegov.org, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that occurs in the eastern half of our country, causing disease in humans, horses, and some bird species. Maine has reported two residents with confirmed EEE to date: one in 2014 and one in 2015.

There are proactive steps you can take to safely reduce the annoying biting, itching and potential exposure to health risks on your property. Always remove any standing water. In most cases, your backyard pond does not constitute standing water. If bugs gather near it, welcome some fish to it. They will take care of them. Wear woven clothes which are hard for the insect to penetrate and avoid dark colors. Keep your landscape as clear as possible as that will increase the air flow in your yard that will push the bugs out of the area. When entertaining, disperse fans around your venue as well as tiki torches and citronella candles. Planting basil, lavender, catnip, and lemon balm, among other plants and herbs, has been known to be helpful in the defense against mosquitoes.

If you opt to spray your property, please be certain that organic product is used as it will not harm bees and beneficial insects, birds, foliage and most important, our livestock, pets, and ourselves.

Taking these steps to reduce/eliminate these pests from your property will enable you to enjoy it in peace.

Browntail Moths on the Midcoast

Browntail Moths (BTM) emerge overwintering nests. This caterpillar is covered in tiny poisonous hairs that become airborne as the caterpillar molts and sheds its skin. These barbed hairs act as tiny, microscopic needles that can penetrate a light shirt. The hairs carry a toxin that causes a severe rash to the skin, respiratory problems, and extreme eye problems. These hairs retain toxicity for several years after being shed and can be problematic if disturbed by yard work.

Early spring is the time to check the trees that are in your surrounding area for the nests. The nests look like leaves that have not fallen off the tree, and most often are at the very top of the tree. The nests are silken tents constructed around branch-tip leaves and anchored to twigs. Each nest may have 30-400 caterpillars. The BTM can be found in several types of trees: oaks, white birch, fruit trees, maples, weeping willows, and beech.

If you have trees that are on the edge of your property with just a few nests, (one to two out of seven-eight trees) then they will only be slightly bothersome, and no further action is required. If you have a tree with one or more nests in it close to where you enter the house or deck, near flower beds, or where you park your vehicle, you may want to have that tree treated. You can have the nests removed, the tree sprayed or injected.

For controlling the BTM, removal of branch-tip nests by having them clipped out, in the winter or very early spring, can be done by arborists. The tree can be treated in April or May by trunk injection, soil injection and drench. As the tree leaves out treat by organic and non-organic spraying of the entire tree. Any application of pesticide should only be done with strict accordance to label directions and precautions taken to protect both yourself and the environment.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgids on the Midcoast

The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is a small invasive aphid-like species that was introduced to the Eastern United States in 1927. Forest and ornamental hemlock trees can be hosts for HWA. Native Northeastern U.S. hemlocks, the Eastern hemlock show no resistance to the species and have been negatively impacted. As of 2022 the HWA has been found in over sixty southern Maine towns

The HWA moves slowly via wind, animals, and humans through the movement of nursery plants and equipment. The range in our area expands about five miles per year. Hemlocks growing in stressful sites, poor soil drainage, compacted soil, or a drought situation are more likely to die within two-five. Healthier hemlocks can withstand the infestation longer but remain sickly for decades.

In March and April, each adult of the overwintering generation will lay up to three hundred eggs within their woolly covering. The newborn hatch from April through May, and then settle on the twigs near the bases of the needles and start feeding on the needles. The HWA weakens the tree by depleting its store of carbohydrates which reduces the ability to move water, so needles dry out and turn grey or yellow. A tree may die in a matter of two years depending on health & infestation. A healthy tree with less of an infestation may take 8-10 years.

Monitoring your hemlocks is especially important. A visual inspection of the undersides of branches is the best way to tell if a hemlock is infested. Start with the large hemlocks that are wind breakers as they sometimes are the first to become infected. A 10X loop can be used for magnification, check the lower limbs first. December through February is an excellent time to look for adelgid because the white wool is visible. There are other insects that can be mistaken for HWA so, if in doubt, contact the Maine forest service or a local tree pest control professional.

Small, very localized infestations can be treated through pruning and destroying affected branches. Trees can be sprayed with dormant oil, or insecticidal soap, or a systemic insecticide. When stem spraying, thoroughly wet the bark from the root flare up to four feet. An insecticide can be applied as a soil drench or can be applied through soil injection or can also be injected into the trunk of the tree. Considerations must be taken into account with each of these methods. Many pesticides, for example, should not be used near water or when nearby vegetation is in bloom. Soil applications are not appropriate on some soil types. Take caution to protect both yourself and the environment by only applying the pesticide in strict accordance with label directions and precautions.

The HWA will eventually but not immediately disappear after treatment. Examine your trees the following year after applying treatment to determine if it remains effective. Different treatments have different longevity and may need to be treated again in a two-five span.

Toxicity to pollinators is exceptionally low because bees are not attracted to hemlock pollen and few flowering plants can grow under the shade of a hemlock.

The Invader Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are indigenous to many forested parts of the world. The Genus has over a thousand distinct species. They aid in the decomposition of dead, decaying trees and can be found in most wooded areas. In Maine we have primarily have two species: the Eastern black carpenter ant and the red carpenter ant. The black carpenter ant is by far the more common of the two.

There is one wingless queen in a carpenter ant colony with many sterile, workers of diverse sizes. Within a colony, only the queen produces eggs. Eggs undergo complete development, metamorphosis, the same as butterflies (egg, larva, pupa, adult). An established nest has 2-3000 workers in it. Every year the colony produces 2-400 winged ants that emerge in early spring and early summer. These winged “Swarmer” or “Alate” are reproductive male and female adults that will mate outside of the nest. The males die shortly after mating and the females shed their wings and start a new nest. A queen’s life expectancy is fifteen years; the nest will produce new workers and swarmers until she dies.

Carpenter ants do not consume wood; they tunnel through wood and create nests or galleries. This nest is primarily used for breeding and shelter that protects ants from their enemies. Carpenter ants are omnivorous, consuming plant secretions and fruit juices, as well as the remains of any insects, including dead members of their own colony. They use aphids to collect honeydew, one of their favorite foods. They are nocturnal and will travel up to one hundred yards from their nest in the search for food. The ants leave a trail of pheromones that will guild them back from the food source to their nest.

A sign of a colony’s existence is frequent sightings of large black ants in a kitchen or bathroom, who are looking for water for the colony. Finding small amounts of sawdust in a basement or other areas is a common sign of an infestation. The sawdust-like piles of wood shavings are known as “frass.” Common indoor nest locations are sills, joists, wall studs, window, door casings, and under insulation between ceiling joists and sills.

Prevention is the best method with carpenter ants. Check the exterior of the house for areas that are damp for extended periods of time. Replace any decaying wood with pressure-treated wood. Keep all surfaces properly painted and sealed. Carpenter ants in most cases will not infest wood that has a moisture content of less than 15%. Seal around all pipes that enter your house from an exterior wall. Remove all logs, waste wood, dead trees, and stumps that are within 100yds of your home. Evergreen trees should not be in direct contact with your house. Store firewood away from the house and keep it off the ground. Never stack firewood against your house.

Control of a minor infestation can be handled using the same strategies as used for other species of ants. Most popular is baiting, which is in most cases is a sweet substance laced with a toxicant, such as borax. This is sold in many different forms and should only be used in areas where pets and children cannot access. Destroying the nest using bait takes time, up to two weeks. If you locate the nest, they can be treated with a formulation of diatomaceous earth or pure pyrethrin spraying directly into the colony cavity. Keep in mind not to use pyrethroids, which are not considered organic products. Whenever using any pesticide of any type follow all directions and use with caution.

If your efforts seem not to be working, then it may be time to call a professional who can use several different methods of treatment.

Be Aware of The Destructive Emerald Ash Borer

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive insect from Northeast Asia that came to North America via shipments on wooden pallets. This bright metallic green color beetle will bore into the living tissue of a tree, killing the tree within two to three years. The EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees and is now a serious threat to Maine’s ash trees.

The adult EAB is a bullet-shaped, metallic green insect with a flat back which is about an inch and a half long. Usually spotted between June and August, they are strong flyers and keep close to the ground. Adult EAB beetles lay eggs on the bark of ash trees. According to the North Carolina Forest Service, when the eggs hatch, the larvae (immature beetles) bore into the bark and feed on the transportation tissues of the tree. This disrupts the movement of nutrients and water within the tree, girdling it and causing its death. There can be hundreds of larvae feeding on the entire length of the tree trunk.

There are three species of ash trees in Maine: black, green, and white. Ash trees can grow to heights of 40-80 feet and serve as shade trees or boundary line trees. Black Ash, or “basket ash” is used by the Wabanaki tribes for basket making and is considered sacred. Ash wood is used for everything from furniture to baseball bats. These elegant trees make up 4% of the trees in the Maine forest. Of the United States, Maine has the forest land which cover over 90% of the state. So, while 4% may seem a small amount, it is estimated that Maine has more than four hundred million ash trees. They are concentrated in Kennebec, Lincoln, Penobscot, Somerset, Aroostook, Cumberland, York, Sagadahoc, and Androscoggin counties.

In 2018 the EAB was discovered in Aroostook country in Madawaska and Frenchville and in Portland in 2019. In less than four years it has spread to the Brunswick, Winslow, and Newport areas. The state now has placed quarantines in York County and Cumberland counties, with emergency orders covering all of Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc and Waldo Counties and parts of Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford, Penobscot Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties. The EAB by itself moves about two miles a year from an affected site. The movement of firewood for homes, and camping is increasing its fast dispersal. Additionally, infected ornamental nursery stock could introduce the EAB into new areas.

Since the EAB only recently arrived in North America, there is no known natural predator. Woodpeckers and nuthatches are attracted to EAB infected trees but will not save the tree. The Maine Forest Service is releasing a parasitic wasp for biocontrol at potential sites. This method will not help the current ash population but hopefully will protect future generations. These tiny stingless wasps are showing satisfactory results in several states. This is an environmentally sound method of pest control.

Insecticides can be an effective way to protect your ash trees, including large ones, even under intense pest pressure. If your trees are within a known 30-mile infestation, it would be time to consider treatment. The methods of treatment are soil applications, basal trunk sprays and trunk injections. Of the three, trunk injection is the most effective and longest lasting. No harmful sprays or chemicals are used outside of the tree. This should be done by a licensed professional who understands the tree’s physiology and the importance of seasonal timing for the best results.

For concerned homeowners, it is best to develop an EAB plan. You can stay informed about the locations of the EAB in Maine through its website at www.maine.gov/eab. Inspect your property for ash trees and consider their value to you and your property. Have an estimate done for the cost of removal by an arborist. This will help you to determine whether removal and/or replacement or a professional insecticide application program will meet your budget and goals for your property.