MACHIAS — A spokesman for the Maine Board of Pesticides Control said Thursday that balsam fir trees in coastal Washington County may escape much of the anticipated summer infestations of gypsy moths and hemlock loopers, but insect-control measures must be used in accordance with regulations.

Bob Batteese, director of the Maine BPC, said “the element of surprise has often been the flashpoint between applicators and the general public. Our regulations try to stem these problems by opening a line of communications between them.”

Some balsam fir Christmas tree growers and wreath-makers in northern Washington County from Princeton through Calais and into the Pembroke and Cooper areas have reported balsam fir trees damaged by hemlock looper infestations. Significant stands of balsam fir in the Milbridge and Addison area have also been hit by the looper.

At stake is defoliation of hundreds of thousands of acres of hardwood, hemlock, balsam fir and white pine. Landowners in the path of new or repeated infestations are turning to professional insect-control services who spray pesticides — a practice which in the past has made some neighbors uneasy, especially if they are caught by surprise.

In the 1920s and mid 1960s, a total of about 150 acres of forested lands in the state were damaged by loopers and moths. This year, however, 225,000 acres are infested from York to Calais.

A cause of the infestations was explained by Paul V. Gregory of the Board of Pesticides Control. “Just as the winter of 1991-92 enters history books as one of the mildest on record, foresters, home and camp owners, and lake associations are bracing themselves for the coming warm weather,” he said in the Wednesday’s edition of the Department of Agriculture news bulletin. “This latest in a series of mild winters will encourage another summer of gypsy moth and hemlock looper infestations.”

Southern New Hampshire, and Southern Maine in the areas of Sebago Lake and Gray, and the Cranberry Island’s residential area are among places of concern for entomologists.

Henri Trial, supervising entomologist for the state’s field staff, said Thursday that Washington County wasn’t in any great danger from gypsy moths, although a few eggs have been discovered in the areas of Cherryfield and Woodland.

Evidence of the looper has been found in Calais, Baring and along the St Croix River territory to Pembroke and Eastport, as well as inland from Cobscook Bay. “Last fall, the balsam fir tips were so damaged in Cooper, Township 14 and the Pembroke area that most tippers quit in favor of other areas,” Trial said. Tippers and Christmas tree growers were requested by entomologists to report any evidence of the looper.

On the coast, loopers damaged trees from Trenton to Addison. Coastal points of land are favored by the insect, which prefers moist environments. Concentrations were noted at Ray’s Point in Milbridge, and at Cape Split and Ripley Neck in Addison. It prefers moisture-prone areas.

The looper’s first priority is to feed on a hemlock tree’s oldest needles before moving to the newer needles. “Sometimes they will feed on balsam fir, but after their eggs hatch, they will go back onto hemlock.” Defoliation was found north of West Grand Lake, above Grand Falls Flowage and Princeton.

The looper is a native insect that has a relatively brief life of one to three years, before it contracts a fungus disease and dies.

A bacterial insecticide, baccilus thuringiensis, is used to control loopers. The insecticide is preferred because it is not a chemical.

In situations involving aerial use of pesticides to control ornamental pests such as gypsy moth and hemlock looper, the applicator must ensure that the person contracting for services has notified the general public, according to Batteese.

Prior to treatment, the sprayer must place a puiblic notice in a local newspaper describing the area to be sprayed, and the name, address and phone number of the landowner or applicator, intended spray dates and the purpose of the application, precautionary language found on the pesticide labels pertaining to the public, and telephone numbers of the Maine Poison Control Center and the BPC. The notice must appear between 60 days and three days before the application.

The aerial applicator must assure that written notices are sent to persons owning property or using commercial or institutional buildings within 500 feet of the site intended for treatment. The notice must include the same information and be distributed within the same time frame as required for newspaper advertisements. In most cases, aerial applicators require their customers to distribute written notices to neighbors.