SAVE THE DATE!
MAA NOVEMBER ANNUAL MEETING

Invasive Insects on the Move: What to Watch for in 2027

Elizabeth Barnes, Ph.D.
Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Invasive insect pests continue to reshape our landscapes and challenge tree care professionals throughout Massachusetts and New England. As we head into the 2027 growing season, knowing what to look for and how to respond is increasingly important.

We will focus on invasive insects of concern like spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer, box tree moth, spongy moth, and other emerging pests that warrant attention. Learn how to identify key pests and recognize the signs and symptoms of infestation, along with the latest information on their distribution, population trends, and what arborists should anticipate in 2027.

Learn about current monitoring and management strategies, treatment considerations, and practical steps tree care professionals can take to protect valuable trees while helping to limit the spread and impact of invasive insects.

Attendees will learn:

·       Key identification characteristics and signs of infestation

·       Invasive and emerging pests to watch in 2027

·       Host plants and trees most at risk

·       Current distribution, population trends, and projections

·       Monitoring, treatment, and management options

·       The important role arborists play in early detection and reporting

MDAR and ISA Credit Pending

About our speaker

Elizabeth Barnes Elizabeth Barnes is the Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and previously worked as the Exotic Forest Pest Educator at Purdue University. She studied biology as an undergraduate at Mount Holyoke College and received her Doctorate in plant-insect interactions from the University of Denver where she studied tent caterpillars and fall webworms.

Annual Elections

Members will vote on the following slate of officers and directors recommended by the Nominating Committee for 2027:

President: Max Ford-Diamond, MCA - City of Boston
Vice President: Brandon Maltby, MCA - Maltby & Co., Inc.
Treasurer: Kieran Yaple, MCA - Bartlett Tree Experts
Past President: Russell Holman, MCA - Eversource
MCA Representative: Julie Clements, MCA - Newton Cemetery & Arboretum
Directors:
Keith Bernard, MCA - Barrett Tree Service East
Steve Vernon, MCA - Harrison McPhee
Matt Fisk, MCA - Fisk Tree Service

Bylaws Update

The MAA Board of Directors is recommending an update to the Association’s current Bylaws. Members will receive advance notice detailing the proposed revisions, which will be presented for a vote at the meeting.