Laurel wilt disease detected in Suwannee

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April 2, 2009

Has been creeping across the South since 2002

By Jeff Waters, Democrat Reporter

A beetle-borne tree disease that struck near the Georgia-South Carolina border in 2002 has reached Suwannee County. Laurel Wilt Disease was discovered near Peacock Lake in January and has since been detected in Wellborn and Branford, according to Senior Forester Brian Cobble of the Florida Division of Forestry.

Cobble, who is based in Suwannee County, said Laurel Wilt Disease is caused by a fungus that is spread by non-native wood-boring red bay ambrosia beetles that carry spores in their mouths. The first local case was discovered in the eastern portion of the county, near Peacock Lake, on private forestland in January. The disease, which infects red bay, avocado and other trees in the laurel family, has been detected in at least 18 Florida counties.

"After becoming infected, (trees) wilt/die in a matter of weeks to a few months," Cobble said Wednesday by email. "The non-native ambrosia beetles have been moving westward in the State of Florida from Jacksonville in a broad swath since the fall of 2005."

The disease originated in Port Wentworth, Ga. in 2002.

"There has been one reporting in the Wellborn area and one reporting near the Suwannee River in Branford since," said Cobble. "Forest landowners with known red bay trees on their property, especially older mature trees, should monitor the trees and be aware that their trees are at high risk."

The beetle that carries the disease is tiny, about the size of Abraham Lincoln's nose on a penny. Activity from the beetle increases with warmer spring weather, Cobble said.

Indicators of the disease are wilting foliage and dark discoloration of the outer wood. Cobble said if these symptoms are detected he should be contacted immediately at the Live Oak Forestry Station at 386-364-5314.