Laurel Wilt Disease and the Redbay Ambrosia Beetle

Help Protect Native Treesand Florida’s Avocado Industry

RESOURCES

FDACS Division of Plant Industrywww.FreshFromFlorida.comHelpline: 1-888-397-1517

UF/IFAS www.edis.ifas.ufl.eduwww.trec.ifas.ufl.edu

Miami-Dade County Extensionwww.miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu(305) 248-3311

HOW YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF LAUREL WILT

The redbay ambrosia beetle spreads the fungus causing laurel wilt disease as it bores into healthy trees in the laurel family. The beetle may spread the disease when it migrates from infested plants to healthy ones. The beetle and disease are also spread when infested plants and wood are moved from one location to another.

Here’s what you can do to help stop the spread:

Become familiar with the signs of laurel wilt and the redbay ambrosia beetle. www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi

Don’t move firewood. Use local firewood only. Don’t move wood from other parts of Florida or other states. If you do, you may

be moving pests as well.

Don’t transport host trees unless you purchased them from a registered nursery. Host trees include red bay, swamp bay, avocado, sassafras, pondspice, pondberry and others in the Lauraceae family.

Use only recommended methods to dispose of trees in the laurel family including debris from pruning them. For more information visit http://bit.ly/WM8E2A

If you suspect your trees may be infected with laurel wilt or believe you have found redbay ambrosia beetles, contact the

FDACS Helpline, 1-888-397-1517.

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1 -888 -397-1517www.FreshFromFlorida.com/pi

savetheguac .com

www.dontmovefirewood.orgFDACS-P-01840

LAUREL WILT THREATENS THE LANDSCAPE AND AGRICULTURE

Laurel wilt is a disease that kills trees in the laurel family, including avocado. It is a fungus spread by the redbay ambrosia beetle.

In addition to the avocado, trees susceptible to the disease include red bay, swamp bay, pondspice and silk bay – all native to Florida.

The disease and the beetle have spread from Georgia southward, and have now reached Florida’s 7,500-acre avocado production area in Miami-Dade County.

Avocado production is second only to citrus in its economic importance to Florida. It earns about $30 million wholesale each year. Florida’s avocado industry is the nation’s second largest and accounts for more than 60 percent of the state’s tropical fruit production.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Plant Industry is working with the USDA, University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and the avocado industry to control laurel wilt and the beetle that spreads it. Ongoing activities include research on beetle biology and behavior patterns, screening by UF/IFAS of insecticides and fungicides, studies of disease-resistant avocado varieties, and educational outreach to the public.

redbay ambrosia beetle

Wilt and die-back symptoms

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Streaks in sapwood

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Does laurel wilt affect the avocado fruit?

A: The avocado remains a wholesome, high quality Fresh From Florida product. Redbay ambrosia beetles carrying the fungus attack and kill trees, but do not infest fruit or affect the quality of the fruit.

Q: What are the symptoms of laurel wilt?A: Leaves and young stems show wilt. Leaf

color changes from light green to dark purplish-green or greenish-brown. Dead leaves hang on the tree. Stems and limbs die back. Dark streaks in the sapwood beneath the bark on the trunk and major limbs indicate fungal infection. Sawdust protrudes from infected trees. Small dark holes in the sapwood indicate wood

boring beetles are present.

Q: Can the disease be spread by transporting avocado fruit and seeds?

A: The laurel wilt fungus does not spread via fruit or seeds from infected trees, according to researchers at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead, Florida. Scientists found that the beetle does not infest avocado fruit and dwells only in the tree trunk’s xylem or compound tissue.

Q: Are there plant protection products available to control the beetle and the fungus?

A: UF/IFAS continues to test products for insect and disease control. Information can be found at www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu