<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3a0wCU_1H1r9d4T00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3a0wCU_1H1r9d4T00" width="600" height="400" ><figcaption>Dying, diseased and damaged trees have been removed from Guild Park in the Ocean Park section of Old Orchard Beach. PHOTOS BY BOB HAMBLEN</figcaption></figure>If you’ve driven down Temple Avenue in Ocean Park lately, you’ve probably noticed that Guild Park, known for its tall pines, looks a bit sparse.As those who pay attention to such things have been hearing for some time now, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has made its way from east Asia to our shores, and it’s not good news for Maine’s hemlock and spruce trees.The tiny (about 1.5 mm long, or about 0.1 inch) aphid-like insects have gained a foothold in Maine and several other states in the Northeast; as of 2021, 20 states and two Canadian provinces had been identified as hosts to the insects. They threaten softwood forests by feeding on sap and starches, thus starving the trees of nutrients. New buds die, needle drop follows, branches die and the entire tree can die within two to ten years.While the hemlock woolly adelgids (HWA) pose a serious threat to the great forests of the eastern U.S., landowners are not powerless to respond. When it became apparent that all was not right with the trees in Guild Park, a property on Temple Avenue owned and managed by the Ocean Park Association in Old Orchard Beach, involved parties knew it was time to act.“The pests became noticeable over time due to the number of trees dying,” explained Mark Loritano, a member of the Ocean Park Association’s Environment and Natural Resource Committee.Loritano and others invited licensed foresters to visit the roughly 20-acre parcel (about 17.5 acres of which is forested) located off Temple Avenue and Free Street in OOB. A state entomologist also became involved.Once the invasive species was identified and the extent of damage became apparent, the association applied for a Project Canopy grant made available by the Maine Forest Service. The $7,500 award allowed for a forest management plan to be developed by Northwest Forest Management, based in Sebago.“A pretty good infestation” is how Loritano termed the findings presented in late 2024. While several days of below zero degrees weather can make a significant dent in the bug population, he added, warming winters present little problem for the HWA.The management plan, which can be found on the Association’s website, recommended “opening up the canopy,” he explained, by removing weaker trees. As thickly treed as the property was, younger trees were challenged to receive adequate sunlight. Thinning will result in a healthier stand of trees as well as improved wildlife habitat.The park was closed to the public on October 29, and a dose of insecticide applied near ground level. It is hoped this will extend the lives of affected trees by 2-3 years. And a biological control has been introduced as well: Laricobius beetles (at $3 apiece) have been released at or near the crown of many trees, where the HWA tends to congregate.“If (the beetles) are doing well, they can winter over and feed year after year,” reported Loritano.In 2025, three programs were presented to explain the management plan to the public. Attendees were informed of the plan to measure trees left standing, and to tag those greater in diameter than ten inches. Approximately 2,400 trees were tagged, and precise locations recorded with the use of a Global Positioning System (GPS) app on the cell phones of volunteers.“We can now go back and check as to whether the diameter of individual trees has increased, and track those that have been dosed with insecticide,” said Loritano.Return trips to the park will also reveal how new additions to the site are faring: “The forester was involved with planting 500 seedlings, each marked by a white flag,” he described. Spruce and tamarack seedlings were introduced to what is very sandy and highly acidic soil, with the last significant harvest likely having occurred in the late 19th century.While the impact of the HWA has been noticeable – over 400 trees at varying stages of maturity and condition have been removed – there is optimism that the conservation easement-protected Guild Park will thrive well into the future.“This forest will regenerate, and planting those seedlings will move that process along,” noted Loritano.Bob Hamblen is a freelance writer from Saco. He can be reached at rhh0918@gmail.com.</div></body>

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If you’ve driven down Temple Avenue in Ocean Park lately, you’ve probably noticed that Guild Park, known for its tall pines, looks a bit sparse. As those who pay attention to such things have been hearing for some time now, the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid has made its way from east Asia to our shores, and it’s not good news for Maine’s hemlock and spruce trees.

Tiny pests invade Guild Park, volunteers fight back

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If you’ve driven down Temple Avenue in Ocean Park lately, you’ve probably noticed that Guild Park, known for its tall pines, looks a bit sparse. As those w

Tiny pests invade Guild Park, volunteers fight back

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