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This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common disease pests of maple (Acer spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief but provide links for readers to learn more.
This factsheet provides brief descriptions of common disease pests of oak (Quercus spp.) in North Carolina. Pest descriptions are brief to allow readers to peruse common diseases of oaks, but provide links for readers to learn more.
This fact sheet compiles common disease of dogwood trees (Cornaceae) in North Carolina. It contains brief descriptions with links to reputable and more thorough fact sheets.
Laurel wilt is a disease of plants in the laurel family (Lauraceae), primarily redbay and sassafras, caused by an invasive beetle and the fungus it carries. The redbay ambrosia beetle, native to Southeast Asia, carries the pathogenic fungal associate within its mouthparts. When the beetle bores into its host, the fungus enters the tree, causing disease. Following infection by the pathogen, host trees react by plugging their water-transporting tissues, which stops water flow and kills the tree within a few weeks to months. While laurel wilt affects redbay and sassafras most, it can impact avocado trees, making it an economic concern for growers. The redbay ambrosia beetle was first detected in 2002 in Georgia and has since spread across the Southeast. In 2011, the beetle and fungus complex were discovered in North Carolina, and has rapidly spread.
