The N.C. Forest Service has reported the presence of laurel wilt, a harmful disease affecting redbay and other plants in the laurel family, in Beaufort and Greene counties for the first time. This discovery increases the total number of affected counties to 21.
Plants such as sassafras, redbay, swampbay, pondberry, pondspice, and spicebush are susceptible to this disease. Laurel wilt causes infected redbay trees to retain their leaves even after dying, which aids detection during winter.
Jim Moeller, a forest health specialist with the N.C. Forest Service, stated: “This winter, we surveyed more than 1,700 miles across 11 counties, spanning more than 43,000 acres, looking for signs of laurel wilt. We detected the destructive disease in western Greene County, coming out of Wayne County, and in Beaufort County along the Bay City Highway near the Pamlico County line. So, we’ll be keeping an eye on its progression.”
The invasive redbay ambrosia beetle spreads laurel wilt by carrying the fungus that causes it. Originating from southeastern Asia and first spotted in the U.S. in 2004 near Savannah, GA., this beetle has now spread across 12 states from Texas to Virginia. Although these beetles can travel short distances between trees naturally, human activities contribute significantly to their long-distance spread through firewood transportation.
Female beetles penetrate trees with the fungus attached to them; they create tunnels inside where they lay eggs. The fungal spores grow within these tunnels obstructing water flow leading to tree wilting and eventual death typically within weeks or months after infection.
Symptoms include drooping reddish-purple foliage while evidence of attack may appear as frass toothpicks—threads of chewed wood protruding from entry holes—and black streaks visible when bark is removed.
Counties currently affected by laurel wilt include Beaufort among others such as Bladen Brunswick Carteret Columbus Craven Cumberland Duplin Greene Johnston Jones Lenoir New Hanover Onslow Pamlico Pender Pitt Robeson Sampson Scotland Wayne according to reports from pathologists at N.C State University’s Plant Disease & Insect Clinic
Effective treatment methods are yet unavailable; insecticides fail against beetle attacks whereas fungicides prove costly requiring frequent reapplication thus slowing its spread relies on using local treated firewood notifying local NCFS county rangers if suspected
Homeowners owning dead redbays should retain cut trees onsite avoiding landfill removal instead dispose properly either by cutting/chipping/burning under compliance local/state regulations obtaining burn permits via authorized agents online apps ncagr gov burnpermits
Further information about monitoring invasive pests or suspect infections nearby contact county ranger details available online www.ncforestservice.gov/contacts A detailed map tracking statewide detections accessible at www.ncagr.gov/divisions/nc-forest-service/Map_LWTracking/download?attachment For comprehensive insights visit www.ncforestservice.gov following links Forest Health section finding local NCFS ranger contacts visiting site mentioned earlier
